Our flesh is naturally self-centered. There is no good thing that Satan cannot use to tempt us, or that our flesh itself will not pervert for carnal use. We can, in our pride, take the best gifts of God, given to us for his glory and the edification of others, and make them our own servants. We do so to our own harm. William Gurnall wrote:

Pride of gifts robs us of God’s blessing in the use of them. The humble man may have Satan at his right hand to oppose him; but be sure the proud man shall find God himself there to resist him, whenever he goes about any duty. God proclaims so much, and would have the proud man know wherever he meets him [that] he will oppose him. He ‘resisteth the proud.’ Great gifts are beautiful as Rachel, but pride makes them also barren like her. Either we must lay self aside, or God will lay us aside.

—William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour (Banner of Truth Trust, 2002), 1:193.