The ivory tower of my pride, my own (self-perceived) judgments which by our impeccable morality seeing so clearly the gaping pits into which others have stumbled? It is my natural inclination to say, “How could they be so careless, and so stupid? Wasn’t it obvious to them that these decisions were wrong? How could they let themselves get here in the first place?” I mean, is it really that hard?

Have you ever found yourself saying these words?

My tower is pretty high, so high that I am oblivious to my immediate surroundings of my own weaknesses. My whitewashed fortress, my self-righteousness gets me through the day digging a pit of my own, and I am completely blind to it.

Scripture tells us that “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah. 17:9).

When I attempt to identify my own areas of vulnerability, my pits, I am pretty shortsighted. Why; because I gravitate toward the places where I am weak, forgetting my strengths can be my weakness.

For example:

Abraham’s great strength was obedience. Where did he fall? Obedience (Gen. 12:13, 16:2).

Noah’s great attribute was discipline. Where did he fall? Discipline (Gen. 9:21).

Isaac’s great asset was truth-telling. Where did he fall? Truth-telling (Gen. 26:7).

Moses’ great strength was meekness. Where did he fall? Meekness (Num. 20:10-12).

David’s great character trait was integrity. Where did he fall? Integrity (2 Sam. 11:3-27).

Elijah’s great attribute was faith. Where did he fall? Faith (1 Kings 19:3-13).

Uzziah’s great strength was adherence to God’s Word. Where did he fall? Adherence to God’s Word (2 Chr. 26:16-21).

Peter’s great asset was courage. Where did he fall? Yup. Courage (Luke 22:34-62).
Boasting about Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9; “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

Why would Paul rather boast about his weaknesses instead of his strengths? Because God’s power is perfected in my weakness…it shores up a defense against our enemy, the flesh, the world, the devil in the area’s of my life where I am most susceptible.

We ignore the area’s in which we are strong, Why, because we assume these are the areas we will never fail so they are often ignored, and we fall into a pit of susceptible to the weakness of our strength.

Do you ever remember saying; “I will never do that, or fail in this area?”

Where are you strong? Inspection of those areas ensures you are on guard.

Many times weaknesses of our strengths are only seen after our failure. How else will we find the weak-link of the armor of our self-righteousness?

Proverbs 4:23; ^“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”

1 Corinthians 10:12-13; “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 5;8 to be sober and diligent…the why is found in the preceding verse 6-7; “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Humility is the ultimate “self-awareness.” It tears down our Ivory Tower of pride enabling us to see the reality in our lives where we are susceptible to temptation and failure, even where we think we’re strong.

1 Peter 1:3-6; “³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”