The more God entrusts to us the more possibility there is for conceit. It is tragically ironic, but true, that we have a tendency to use God’s gifts as tools for our rebellion. We love to use our experiences, achievements and abilities to bolster our identity and image and to make people admire and respect us. Having spoken of his experiences Paul assures his readers that it is not to puff himself up that he says these things. He tells how God had built into his life some kind of anti-pride impediment. We aren’t told what it was, but it was certainly something grievous to Paul, who had pleaded with God to take it away. But God would not take it away. In order to be able to receive from God and be used by God we must remain humble and dependent upon him. Humility and dependence are more important than any other ability or qualification we might have. To do God’s work you need dependence more than resources. To do God’s work you need humility more than ability. God will therefore build humility and dependence into your life. He will do things that will break your self-reliance. He will create circumstances that will act as a kind of thermostat to quash your pride when it overheats. Whatever brings you humility is better than what brings you natural strength and resources. Humility gives you the capacity to receive from God and operate in his power.
Ask God to build humility and dependence into your life and remove any self-reliant tendencies.
Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
