Parenting by Design - December 1

The Danger of Pride

2 Thes. 2:10-12: They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness (NIV).

What is "the lie" that people are so inclined to believe? It is the word first spoken to Eve in the garden—"you will be like God". This one lie has led more men astray that any other in the history of mankind. Yet, we are all inclined to try to do things on our own, without God, at times. When we persist in the pursuit too long, God will give us our desire.

When we do what pleases us and try to accomplish selfish goals by human effort, we are continuing the lie. And, we are modeling for our kids what it means to exchange "the truth of God for a lie" (Rom 1:25). Pride trades God's glory for Satan's deception.

Paul was clear in his letters that only one type of boasting was legitimate—boasting in our weakness and the Lord's strength. Let's teach our kids that we are proud only of the Lord's grace.