PRIDE BRINGS LOSS AND DEFEAT

(2 Kings 14:7-14)

He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day. Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trod down the thistle. Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: the glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to their tents. And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria(KJV).


We must watch pride in our lives. It is a vice that creeps in unawares and subtly into a life. It disguises when it arrives a life. The almighty God resists pride and the proud.


Today's passage is about king Amaziah one-time king of Judah. He had some victories and they got to his heart. He then thought he can dare any kingdom and king. Though he was warned pride in his heart would not allow him to listen. He lost precious things of God's house and his kingdom. He was also eventually defeated. Pride has undone him.


We must remain humble if we want to keep going forward and upward. We must never let anything gotten and done possess our hearts. Pride makes a man feels he has arrived and can do or undo. Pride brings defeat and loss.


It is by humility we will keep learning and listening. It is by humility we will yield to advise and not think highly of ourselves. It is by humility we will remain connected to God who is the source of all good things.


If we will not lose what we had already. If we will not be defeated through which one can be dispossessed let us remain humble. Humility is the way up while pride is the path that leads to backwardness and oblivion.


I ask God to rid our hearts of all tendencies and traces of pride in the name of Jesus.


Happy New Week,

Yemi Oyetunji