Peninnah's Pride

(Lessons from Women in the Bible)

And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

And her adversary (Peninnah) also provoked her (Hannah) sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 1Samuel 1:2,6-7

Peninnah had children; Hannah didn't. So Peninnah teased Hannah and made life miserable for her. Peninnah's ability to have children had nothing to do with herself; her children were something God had given to her. How could she laugh at someone with no children, when her own children were a gift? Things could have been the other way around—herself barren and Hannah having children—and she couldn't have changed things either. So why the pride? Are you the same?

What do you have that others don't have?

Talents?

Money?

Expensive things?

Good looks?

A healthy body?

A boyfriend/fiancée?

A good family?

A Christian background?

Knowledge of the Bible?

Not everybody has all these things. Do you ever feel proud because of what you have? Are you proud that you can do something so well? That you are pretty? That you come from a good family?

There is no reason to be proud of something God has given you! God could have chosen to give these things to someone else instead of you. It has nothing to do with you. True, maybe you have worked hard to develop your talents, skills, looks etc. But they still come from God. God could take away your ability to do them at anytime if He wanted to.

Don't be like Peninnah! Instead of being proud, be thankful for all the abilities and blessings God has given you. Instead of looking down on other people who don't come up to your standard, pray for them and ask God to help you to be a blessing to them.