Pride. It’s seems that pride is one of the worst traps we can fall into. How many times has pride stolen positive outcomes from us? It can cost us everything: family, security, employment, and even our legacies. It also hurts our families and community.

2 Kings 5 captures this in a powerful way. Naaman was a top general. He was famous and rich. He held a powerful office. There was an issue though…he had leprocesy. This was a a horrible condition that ultimately made people outcasts, they lived in agonizing pain, and died a slow death. Bottom line, it was a lonely and tragic disease. Naaman knew what his future held if he didn’t somehow find a cure. He heard of the prophet Elisha and the miracles that followed him. He made the decision to get help, but on his terms.

Naaman went to get his help. He had his men with him along with riches to pay Elisha for his healing. When he arrived at Elisha’s house, he sent his men to bring Elisha out. Instead, Elisha didn’t come out, but told Namaan’s men to tell him to go to the Jordan River and dip in the water seven times.

Pride. Namaan’s pride took over. He got angry that he was to dip in the dirty murky public waters of the Jordan. He was used to having it all, not to go swimming where the citizens would bathe and wash their clothes. Because of his pride he was about to leave. He was about to throw away his healing, but he didn’t care.

Thankfully his servants talked him down and spoke life to him. They were like, Namaan, if Elisha would’ve asked something big of you, you would do it. They let him know how pride was going to be his downfall. So Namaan did it. He swallowed his pride and went swimming.

After he stepped of his high and mighty platform of pride, he walked out of the Jordan River clean. The Bible even says his skin was “new” and compared it to a “baby”! He went from his skin and muscles falling off his bones to being healthy and totally renewed.

We all have pride like Namaan. We feel like we should have everything because pride says we should. Pride almost cost Namaan his healing, and ultimately his death. Taking a step further, pride almost cost him his legacy.

What is it that God has called you to do? Take a long look at yourself and see where pride has taken a foothold, and is/will be costing you today. Take a dip in your own Jordan River today, before it is to late.