And they (Miriam and Aaron) said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. Numbers 12:2 ESV
Miriam and Aaron – Moses’ sister and brother – were upset with him. More than that, they were upset with God. Some of it stemmed from the fact that Moses married a Cushite woman (see verse 1). Yet deep down, they were challenging Moses’ spiritual leadership. Their accusations were rooted in pride, the very sin of which they accused Moses.
Pride has no place in our lives or in our hearts, and certainly not in the context of ministry. God’s Kingdom cannot be furthered when there is dissension or pride in the ranks. God has gifted each of His children in different ways. Those gifts are not meant to acquire fame or influence. No one can take credit for what God has gifted us in the first place. Because our spiritual gifts are not meant for our own profit but to benefit others.
Be very aware of pride in ministry. It is a flaw that some of us constantly battle. It is a sin that we daily must confess. It is a weakness we must overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit. Because pride focuses on self-validation rather than furthering the Kingdom of God. It’s a matter of correcting our priorities to center around Christ and His Kingdom rather than feeding our own vainglory.
My friends, it all begins with our mindset. There are two ways to look at life: what can others do for me or what can I do for others? The choice is ours to make.
Prayer: Lord, remove any pride that might be taking root in the soil of my heart. May your Kingdom always remain at the center of all I say and do. Use me and use the gifts you havebestowed upon me to bring glory to your name and your name only. Amen.
Thought: “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man… It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition is gone, pride is gone.” – C.S. Lewis