How Does Disobedience Lead to Loss of God's Favor?

How would you describe your strengths and weaknesses? Acknowledging that strengths and weaknesses exist in our personality and character is essential for achieving success in each phase of adult life. How a person utilizes their gifts and talents during adolescence lays the foundation for an expanding identity.

Saul, the first king of Israel, exhibited the strengths that would qualify him for success. He was intelligent, handsome and tall, a man of courage, a military strategist, and a capable commander of the army. He was generous, but above all these he was chosen by God to be king.

With all of these strengths, disobedience would contribute to Saul's failure. Apparently, pride kept him from admitting his weaknesses and making amends. Proverbs 16:18 gives us this warning: “Pride leads to destruction and arrogance to downfall.” Always remember, humility instead of pride is the way to God’s heart and his blessings.

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Don’t let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that the God’s anger comes to those who refuse to obey him.

~Ephesians 5:6 God’s Word Translation

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How Can Family Reunions Be Kept Joyful?

Today we think of holidays as an occasion to be on vacation with family or friends – a time when rivalries of childhood and adolescence give way to maturity and growing compatibilities. Much has been written about family dynamics, which include communications and interactions.

The development of maturity and compatibility is encouraged by the requirements of adolescence and adulthood. Moving toward maturity is part of our physical and emotional development while pride and arrogance delay the development of maturity. According to Proverbs 16:18, “Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to ruin.”

Holidays can be joyful by following the counsel of Proverbs 16:23. “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth and makes his lips persuasive.” So focus on compatibilities that exist within the family rather than disruptive differences. This is good advice for peaceful, happy family get-togethers.

                  

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Kind words are like honey – sweet to the taste and good for your health.

~Proverbs 16:24 Good News Bible

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Pulling Back from the Brink of Destruction

God gives each person something unique that makes him or her different from all others. That could include a gift or talent that enables a person to contribute to the benefit of mankind. Yet even in the most tender and loving relationships, conflict is impossible to avoid. Most conflict centers around the lack of effective communication.

Conflict is caused by striving for control in an obvious or a subtle way. As conflict intensifies, the prospect for resolution diminishes. Samson’s propensity for conflict followed this pattern. When conflicts increased in intensity, his demands for retribution and revenge followed suit.

Samson’s attitude of superiority led him to believing no one could bring him down. He mistakenly believed his gifts and talents were designed exclusively for the advancement of his own desires and passions. Even so, God repeatedly sent wake-up calls to pull him back from the brink of destruction. If that call is for you, why not respond to God's loving appeal now?  

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If you are wise, live a life of steady goodness, so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about them, then you will be truly wise! And by all means, don’t brag about being wise and good if you are bitter and jealous and selfish; that is the worst sort of lie.

~James 3:13-14 The Living Bible

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Trade in Your Pride for Peace

Forgiveness is a wonderful thought, but difficult to accomplish. While you believe forgiveness is the right thing to do, resistance may surround you like a heavily guarded fortress blocking the way forward. Forgiveness is often locked up inside invisible walls accompanied by strong feelings of pride and arrogance.



Pride prevents us from being humble enough to make apologies for causing pain and suffering to others. Some erroneously believe that giving up their pride to secure forgiveness would lead to their downfall. This gives credibility to the old cliché, “Pride goes before the fall.” In truth, arrogance or being overconfident is what leads to failure.

Isaiah 2:11 speaks to the issue of pride. "A day is coming when human pride will be ended, and human arrogance destroyed. Then the Lord alone will be applauded.”  Pride can cut you off from reconciliation and peace. Open yourself to the cleansing power of Christ so you will be able to give or receive forgiveness today.

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Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.

~Proverbs 16:18 Good News Bible

It’s common knowledge that, “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”

~James 4:6 The Message

Live in harmony with each other. Do not be arrogant, but associate with humble people. Do not think that you are wiser than you really are.

~Romans 12:16 International Standard Version