Talent Without Humility
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. -Proverbs 8:13
To put it simply, God hates pride. Or perhaps to be more accurate, He hates self-pride. (For to boast in the Lord is worship, not pride.) Clearly God is displeased with those that lift themselves up against Him.
The proud: talented
The trouble is, many people who are proud and arrogant also happen to be talented: and that’s just the problem, as they do not give recognition for the source of their talent, which is God.
Perhaps some would even attempt to use talent as an excuse or a pardon for their pride. “Even though they do let their success go to their head, they still have an amazing ability…” is our reasoning. But what, (or whom), does this bear a resemblance to?
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"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
-2 Corinthians 11:14
Satan’s prideful fall
Another being that had a lot of potential, and seemed to be bursting with ability was an angel named Lucifer. Yet, according to the Bible, his excessive pride was his downfall, and he fell to earth and became the one that we now know as Satan.
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. -Isaiah 14:12-14
And it should be noted that simply because Lucifer was very prideful, that still didn’t stop God from creating him with a lot of ability and potential. If the devil himself wasn’t kept from inheriting talent, surely none of us can be kept from it either. As it is written, “[God] maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
Our abilities: stewards over God’s gifts
Yet, it is what we do with our talents and abilities that will define us as human beings. We can either hoard our gifts and keep them to ourselves, proclaiming that we are “the best”—refusing to give God the glory, or we can accept His gifts with gratitude and use them in every opportunity God gives us.
If we are found faithful stewards of His gifts, we shall get an everlasting reward. Yet, if we ascribe greatness to ourselves—however great we may be—we ought to remember that we are acting no better than the devil himself.
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: -Psalms 12:3
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