"Pride comes before a fall . . ."

. . . is an old British saying very much like Proverbs 16:18 which has "fall" as "destruction." In yesterday's sermon Pastor Frank continues his series on David in whose life this truism became very obvious. Frank described it as overconfidence and spiritual arrogance coming before failure. I was again reminded of my time of overconfidence and hesitantly say spiritual arrogance that grew in me after seminary and through successful experiences in work until I was a national consultant, traveling the country and pretty sure of myself. Then I made the plunge into marriage, not depending solely on God but constantly trying to fix things myself until my continued personal failures ended in divorce and all the falling or destruction that goes with it. So many times I have wondered how things might have been different if I had depended more on God, tried harder to be the spiritual leader of my family rather than the rescuer trying to keep everyone happy. Only God knows. The message Sunday reminded me of my greatest failure brought on most likely by pride or overconfidence in myself and what I could do.