Magdy Samuel

Chapter 4: 3
The negative effects of conceit (1)

Conceit and pride are sins that God hates the most. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1Peter 5:5).This sensation, from psychological point of view, is considered the most destroying feelings to the person and to his relations .The proud cannot enjoy peace and satisfaction and cannot also live in peace with others.

Conceit in Hagar’s life made her lose most of the privileges she had joyfully gained during her life. We shall meditate together in some of Hagar’s losses, praying deep in our hearts that God protects our souls from every conceit and pride.

First: Pride of the heart
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.” (Genesis 16:3,4)
Heart pride is the first outcome among the serious consequences of Conceit. It happens when we feel we have attained our goal in life and succeeded in owning quickly a nice job with a nice income, a big and beautiful house, one or more new cars and a very considerable amount of money at the bank besides a wonderful family. Therefore, sometimes we feel like  we are influenced and drunk of success and without expecting it, we fall into conceit, egotism and pride because the pride and cruelty occur, gradually without feeling it.

During the immigration and departure of God’s people from Egypt, the land of slavery, to Canaan, He alerted them by saying: “You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy8:17,18). Nothing could keep our hearts humble more than observing God’s deeds and mercy to us.

On the other hand, not everyone who succeeds flaunts.  There are some who become more humble and give more respect and admiration to God when they succeed more, as Jacob did.
Jacob has humbled himself before God’s faithfulness and various kindnesses. He saw himself unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness God have shown him and he prayed:  "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups” (Genesis 32:9.10)

My dear reader, do you remember what were you thinking about, and what was frightening you, and what were your expectations? Do you recall how were you living and where, what did you own and what was your job? Do you remember how your psychological condition was prior to all of your success?

The Lord wants you to remember in order that you do not forget his deeds and his kindness with you, and your heart has to flow over with gratefulness and thankfulness to his Glory saying: “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name, Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:1,2).

God has recommended his people in the book of Deuteronomy that when He gives them and make them rich, they have to come before Him and offer their first-fruits and to remember how kind and generous the Lord with them was. “When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, take some of the first fruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name” (Deuteronomy 26:1, 2)

Many times, our hearts deceive, for when the Lord gives us, we divert our attention and concern to the gift and we forget and ignore the giver who gave it to us.

Therefore, Dear Reader, I alert you from conceit and pride of what you have accomplished but give Glory to God and praise His name.

Magdy Samuel