READ: Revelation 18:4-8
“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? ” – 1 Corinthians 4:7
The queen of Revelation 18 was full of herself. She thought her situation would never change. You must notice when people speak great swelling words of self-sufficiency. Watch out for great and swelling words of self-sufficiency.
Do not describe God’s gifts to you as though they were your own achievements. Watch out for people who speak as though they accomplish all that they do without God’s grace. One day at a pastors’ meeting, a lady stood up and encouraged everyone to fulfil the Great Commission. Suddenly, a brother blurted out from the back, “You don’t have a husband or a child that is why you are urging us to go out on evangelism.” That was an unfortunate comment by someone who had a spouse and a child. Do not forget that it takes the grace of God to get married. It also takes the grace of God to have a child.
I once visited a pastor who had offended me and whom I had offended. I spoke kind words and suggested that we forget our differences and become friends again. I was taken aback by his response. In the heat of his anger he said: “I don’t need you for anything. I don’t need you and you do not need me.”
But that was not true. I did need him and he did need me. By declaring that he did not need me, he was speaking great swelling words of self-sufficiency and independence. The Bible teaches us that we need one another. Be careful of speaking prideful words!