18 May When Pride Manifests In Pursuit Of Success

In Pursuit Of Success

I love it when I stay inspired to be all I can be and do more than I imagine I am capable of being and/or doing. Everybody loves to be inspired and I am all for being inspired and motivated. I am all for discovering my gifts and talents and developing them so I can bless my world with and by them. However, it is true that sometimes in a bid to make the best of our talents and become all we can be; we miss something extremely important.
Last week I discussed with some talented teenagers and young adults, and I shared with them how it is easy for us to get so busy working on and building up our talents. We tend to have a strong focus on showing forth our gifts and blessing our world by them, that we act like we gave ourselves the gifts and know best about the how, when, and where to use those gifts. I encouraged that it is imperative we never ever lose sight of The One who has given us those gifts.

Inspiration To Redirect Focus

David, the last son of Jesse, a shepherd boy, who at that point in his life, was so insignificant even in his own family is a great example for us. As a teenager, he loved God with all of his heart. He consumed with passion for Him so much so that his heart burned in holy anger to see an uncircumcised Philistine defy his God.
When others were running in fear, His love for God emboldened him run in to battle against a man that was several times his size. The Bible says he was just a boy. 1 Samuel 17:42 And he was less than 20 because he was not yet in the army as you had to be at least 20 to join the army. Numbers 1:45
Yet love for God drove out every fear and filled him with courage. 1 John 4:18
His motive was not to show off, but to show stand up for his God and his faith.

Little wonder God Himself testified that David was a man after His (God”s) heart.
… The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart. 1 Samuel 13:14b NKJV

To use our gifts and talents as we ought to, we must make sure we are tune with the giver. Click To Tweet

Reading the book of Psalms, we find that David knew and acknowledged that all he was and had belonged to God. So He always placed his relationship with God above His pursuits in life.
You couldn’t agree more with me that he did not begin writing and playing songs when he was called to come and play before the king of Israel.
Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well. 1 Samuel 16:16 NKJV

He had been learning while he watched his father’s sheep, God, the angels and the animals were his audience. Yet, besides his practice in the fields, he had already recognized God as the owner and giver of the gifts he possessed and He always acknowledged Him as such.
The first line of the first verse of Psalm 23 reveals that He had submitted himself to the leadership of God. He goes where God leads and does what God commands…
Yes David made mistakes, but he always quickly got back in tune with God. It is not surprising then that his first ever public performance was in the palace, and when he played the devil was put to flight.

The only time our gifts can glorify God, put the enemy to flight and cause change in the hearts and lives of men is when we surrender completely to God. When we hide ourselves continually in Him, when we refuse to allow the gifts keep us away from The Giver.

We Don’t “Own” The Gifts

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 NKJV
Your high IQ, oratory ability, writing skill, negotiation skill, sales ability, gift of comedy, engineering ability, intellect, singing gift, athletic prowess… everything you have the ability to do is directly given you by God.
Samson was gifted with unusual strength, the kind of strength we still haven’t found a match for in our days yet because he refused to acknowledge God as The Giver of his strength, he died his end was not quite what it would have been if he had behaved other wise. You can read his story in Judges chapters 13-16

We cannot afford to act like we gave ourselves our gifts, like we are the creators and owners of the gifts we possess.

…And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV
We must constantly seek God, seek His pleasures, obey His word, live our lives in total abandonment to Him, only then can our gifts and abilities bring Him any glory.

The world’s applause connotes heaven’s commendation. ~Ugochi Oritsejolomisan Click To Tweet

All parent always are always pleased when a child acknowledges their input in their lives. Or Father God is not only pleased and proud, He deserves and demands that we recognize Him as The Giver and pursue Him always.
If we pursue God above our careers, businesses, professions, families, gifts, callings, hobbies, money and everything else, we will find that he will take us to heights that we have never imagined or will ever attain if we try to achieve, become, possess without yielding our lives to Him and leaning completely on Him.

• Everything we are looking for is in and with God:
  

Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. Proverbs 8:18

• We can only receiver our desires and excel in our gifts and pursuits if we are after His heart, if we pursue Him, If we walk in His ways, if we are first in tune with Him:
  

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  Psalm 84:11 NKJV
But make His Kingdom and righteousness your chief aim, and then these things shall all be given you in addition. Matthew 6:33 WEYMOUTH (My emphasis)

We Cannot Afford Pride

It is a prideful thing to ever ignore The God who gave us all that we have. We are saying to Him that we can “do it”, “be it” and “have it” all without His help. We are saying to Him that we do not need Him. 

It is a dangerous state to be in, the state of pride.
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says ; “God resists the proud, “but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 NKJV
The word “resist” according to Strong’s Concordance means to “range oneself against” I think this implies to fight against…
If The Lord of The Angel Armies, The Greatest, The Strongest goes to war against us, then we are doomed because none can rescue us out of His hand.

So in order to position ourselves to receive God’s favour in our lives and in all our pursuits we must be humble enough to always acknowledge Him as The Giver of all gifts and abilities and to constantly stay in tune with Him and in line with His word.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10 NKJV
A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honour. Proverbs 29:23 NKJV

My family and I saw a movie some years ago that reflects some of the things I have written here. The movie “Stand Strong” is a healthy family movie that will be a blessing to you and you family. You can find this and other Christian movies here.Disclaimer: I have not been promised any form of reward or compensation for recommending this movie. I shared it here because it has impacted my family and I in a very positive way and I hope it blesses you too.

Have you recognized your gifts and abilities?
Do you acknowledge God as The Giver?
Do you pursue His heart in pursuit of excelling in life and your abilities?

Copyright© Ugochi Oritsejolomisan 2017