Pride goes before the fall, even if you don’t know it’s pride.

Many times we do things or walk in things or fall for a trap because we simply don’t know. We’re ignorant. We’ve been deceived. It happens. In fact, it happens to everyone. No one is excluded. We can all join this club. It’s diverse. It’s all inclusive.

The big problem arises, though, when we have been made aware of the trap, the deception, the ignorance—and yet still choose to do those things anyway. Then we are totally at fault. We have no reason or excuse. We are 100% at fault.

But many times, these things—such as pride—are so subtle that we don’t even see them. Sometimes they can see harmless or even non-existent.

Take, for example, something that I’ve been seeing lately. My family and I started working out at a gym. Two of my sons and I take karate, and for me, besides the desire to lose some weight, it is to build up my cardio for all of the sparring matches I’m going to go through for an upcoming belt test.

So while I’m at this gym, I see tons of people that have good physiques, okay physiques, and then physiques that are being worked on. And among this diverse group, there are many that I see going into the hardwood floor gym area where they do group fitness, standing in front of the mirror, and flexing. Then the guys take their shirts off and start taking pictures.

This is going on while I’m in there (for the short time) working on my karate techniques. So there’s no telling how many people are doing this throughout the day. But during the small amount of time I’m in this room, I see these people and my honest thoughts are “how prideful these people look.” Now it’s possible they’re not prideful; however, for the most part, I’d doubt it.

The thing is, I bet none of them think that they’re prideful. They’re just looking at the accomplishment that all their hard work has produced. They don’t see it as pride, I’m sure, but the fruits of their labor. And honestly, they have worked really, really hard to get the physique they have.

However…

There is a however. However, they didn’t do this alone. And that’s where the pride comes in. Yes, they might have spent the time to lift those weights. They might have put that work in. But who made the muscles grow? Who provided the air for them to breathe? The strength when they originally started?

It is not a sin to recognize achievements, but the key is to acknowledge God’s role in those achievements. That’s humility. Success should always lead to gratitude, not self-exaltation.

1 Corinthians 15:10 says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain…”

When it comes to success, we must be careful to give God the credit He deserves. We must stay humble and acknowledge Him, not ourselves. There is a role that we play. You know that, I know that, and God knows that.

That’s like the story I heard long ago about a pastor who visited a church member’s home and saw their beautiful garden. The church member had spent countless hours tending to it all year. As the pastor admired the lush plants and vibrant flowers, he said, “God has certainly blessed you with a beautiful garden!”

The church member, glancing at their hard work, smiled and replied, “Well, Pastor, you should have seen it when He had it all by Himself.”

Yes, we do what we know to do, and God does what He does. In all of it, we must be careful to maintain humility, give gratitude to God, and use the moment to glorify Him.

If success leads to arrogance, self-sufficiency, or looking down on others, it’s pride. If success leads to thankfulness, stewardship, and honoring God, it’s a healthy reflection.

Remember that Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That’s great to know that the Lord is empowering us to do great things. However, that scripture is just as true as the words of Jesus in John 15:5—“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.“

Don’t let pride slip in on you. Even if you don’t know it’s there, the effects of it can still lead to destruction. Remember that Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” It doesn’t say anything about you having to know you’re in pride. Don’t be deceived. Stay on guard.

Stay with the Word and the Spirit.