BATTLING PRIDE Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. Prov. 16:18. Hi family. Last night in our home bible study we talked about, amongst many things, the subject of pride. I thought I would follow up with a portion of an article on pride and why God cannot tolerate it. PRIDE IS SATANIC Never forget that God did not make the Devil—Lucifer only became the devil when he arrogantly became infatuated with himself. Yes, Lucifer is a created being. God said, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezek. 28:15). This beautiful, powerful, intelligent, and gifted cherub fell from his perfect estate when his heart was lifted up because of his own beauty and brightness (v. 17). No longer was he willing to be subservient to the Creator. Staggering pride was to blame for the tragedy in heaven. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! … For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne … I will sit also upon the mount … I will ascend above the heights…I will be like the most High” (Isa. 14:12-14). Self-will displaced God’s will, and the Devil emerged. It has been said, “Man is never more like the Devil than when he is full of self-will.” It was pride that caused Lucifer’s fall and subsequent condemnation. Nothing does more to set a person out of the devil’s reach than humility. PRIDE SPAWNS PRAYERLESSNESS The reason humility precedes prayer is because there can be no real prayer without humility. Proverbs speaks of the man who brazenly turns his ear from the law, “Even his prayer shall be abomination” (28:9). Prayerlessness is the very first sign of pride. It has been said, “God’s power will never fall until we do.” Proud people don’t pray. In fact, the only people who pray are those who need God, know they need God, and can’t go on without God. Humility is the altar on which God wishes us to offer Him sacrifices. PRIDE BRINGS CONFLICT Pride can keep you from apologizing when you’ve been wrong. Pride can cause you to defend yourself. Pride can cause you to look down on others. If you allow it, pride can rob you of the most treasured relationships in life. “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife” (Prov. 28:25). Humbling ourselves is the only way to get the roof off toward God and the walls down toward our fellow man. Once offences have been committed, whether intentional or unintentional, they must be dealt with. “I was wrong. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?” are healing words that only a humble soul would use. Whenever you find a man willing to humble himself before God and man, you have found a man who will be exalted, because “humility comes before honor.” PRIDE IS DECEPTIVE Pride is the disposition to exalt self, get above others, and conceal defects. Ever since the Fall man has had the tendency to confess someone else’s sins instead of his own. This is hardly surprising since the heart of man is “deceitful above all things” (Jer. 17:9). And the reason man’s heart is so deceitful is because of inborn haughtiness. “Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart” (Jer. 49:16). Contrary to popular thinking, we are not good people who happen to do bad things—we are sinners through and through. And it is the deceptive nature of pride which brings such reluctance to admit our sins. Father, in short, much more could be said on the subject of pride. If we are all honest, we all battle it and we all need Your daily help to overcome the sin nature and influences of the world around us. Love and blessings!
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 22:19:21 +0000