God expect every of his children to grow up to maturity (1Peter 2:2) after being born again. It is lack of spiritual growth that usually brings backsliding. Growing spiritually involves some effort as well as total reliance of the grace of God; Effort in the area of praise, worship, prayer, studying the word of God and obedience to the Holy Spirit inspired message of God (the bible). Lack of obedient to the word of God will certainly hinder Christian spiritual growth. One of such important word of God that every growth seeking Christian should beware of is ‘Pride’.

God hates pride in totality as a result will not allow any of his children to partake in it.

...Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (James 4:6 KJV).
 
As a child of God, if the Lord is using us to save others, we should be careful not to take the glory and become proud of the achievement because it is not by our own power that we are doing so but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6). Whenever our hearts are puffed-up and we take pride in ourselves, then we are treading a dangerous path and we would never grow.  
 
Pride can manifest itself in several ways in our walk with God. For instance, if you enjoy cleaning the church of God as a worker in the vineyard of God in your early walk with the Lord but after becoming a minister you find yourself too big to do so, watch it, it could be pride.
If because of the level of your education, you know the scripture more than other humble brothers in the church and as result, you feel you cannot learn from him, be careful for that is a manifestation of pride. Perhaps, you are the largest contributor or sponsor of the church program because you are richer than others in the church, as a result you expect the ministers as well as others in the church to treat you specially, be careful, that is pride, remember that it is God that gives power to make wealth (1 Samuel 2:7). There are several ways in which pride can manifest; your beauty, job, position as well as achievement can bring pride but we should be careful not to become a victim of them.
 
In other to see the danger inherent in pride, this christian message briefly examine four consequences of pride – perhaps this will inform our decision to more careful.

Contention or Quarrelling (Proverb 13:10)

It is not uncommon these days to hear of children of God fighting with one another in the church; ministers with another minister, workers with minister or with fellow co-workers. A closer look at the scripture indicates to us that fighting and quarrelling emanates from lack of humility which is pride.
 
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom (Proverb 13:10)
 
Fighting and quarrelling, have made many to depart from the faith and ultimately send many to hell fire. So, whenever we see ourselves always contending with people whether in the church or outside the church, it is essential that we should beware.

Shame (Proverb 11:2)

When talking of shame, the story of king Nebuchadnezzar in the bible is worth mentioning; He had a terrible dream of how God is about to bring him to shame and humble him because of his sins by turning him to a beast for seven years (Daniel 4:1-26), yet he did not repent until he was brought to shame. In Daniel 4:30, the pride of king Nebuchadnezzar reached the peak even after he had been told to repent: hear what he said about himself and the punishment that follows immediately;
 

“and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"


 

While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."
 
Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws”. (Daniel 4:30-33 ESV)
 
What sort of shame and dishonour can be more than this: for a king to become a beast and be dwelling and dining with animal in the forest when he is suppose to be in the palace reigning over men. This story is a compelling one and it actually teaches us to be very careful of the sin of pride because God is ready to put to shame anybody who indulges in it irrespective of whether you are his child or not - beware.

Destruction (Proverb 16:18)

If God chastised a man because of his pride or even punished him and latter restore his glory back to him like the case of Nebuchadnezzar, he should thank his God because it can be worse. Lucifer for example was driven away from heaven because of pride (Ezekiel 28:17), and his glory will never be restored. In fact, the ultimate plan of God for him and all his followers is destruction.
 
Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverb 16:8)
 
When a child of God is too conscious of himself, he should beware, because it could lead to destruction. Lucifer’s (Satan) heart was filled with pride and he rebelled against God who put him in an exalted position, as a result of that he fell. Pharaoh of Egypt was another man sitting in an exalted position but met his destruction because of the pride of his heart. In Pharaoh’s word he said “who is the Lord that I should obey him (Exodus 5:2).
 
There are several examples of other people that God humbled in the scripture because of pride: mentioning a few will suffice; Ephraim (Isaiah 28:3), Moab (Jeremiah 48:29), Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49), Israel (Hosea 7:10) and many others.
 
God abhor pride and as result he wants His children to beware and desist from it. Walking with God in truth and in faith requires humility and obedience without which Christian spiritual growth is unachievable.
 
Finally, brethrens, if we must be proud at any time, then let us be proud of the name of the Lord Jesus as the only Saviour of the soul of mankind.      
Whosoever wants to grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ should humble himself as a child. That is the message of Jesus himself to all of us.
 
“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4)
 
Now, if you are reading this christian devotion but you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour of your life, then it is time for you to repent and be saved. Call on Jesus today to forgive you of any known and unknown sins. Ask him to accept you as one of his children. I’m sure He will answer you.
 
Thanks for reading, the Lord bless you.