The Curse of Pride
Good Morning,
With widespread media, an influx of worldly thinking is prevalent in our society today; one trait has especially raised its ungodly head – personal arrogance. From athletes to actors and musicians, we are surrounded by arrogant overconfidence. Sadly, there are Bible principles that condemn this kind of thinking.
1 Peter 5:5 “... God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
James 4:6 “... God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
God will resist the proud and push away the arrogant and self-sufficient, and He makes promises to the contrary as well.
Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
God dwells with the humble and contrite. God will be near to those who have a broken heart and a humble heart.
Isaiah 66:2 "...but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."
God will look to the humble and contrite and to those who tremble at His Word. I want God looking after me. I want God hovering near, watching out for me, and guarding me as I pass through life. When I spend time around someone who is a big talker, I tremble for the wall of separation that they are creating between themselves and Almighty God.
Any confidence I have is founded in the Bible or in the instruction of older, godly men who have taught me. There is no good in me, and I dread the thought of God looking at my self-righteousness and stepping away to leave me alone.
Whether it be an athlete or a know-it-all Christian, I tremble for those who live on God’s earth, breathe His air, and seem to lift themselves above all others. I have heard Christian men boast themselves of possessing knowledge and wisdom who do not teach a Sunday school class, have never preached a sermon, and have not won a soul to Christ in months or years, and I feel their arrogance overflowing.
Even wicked Manasseh found that humility and supplication bring mercy and help from Heaven.
2 Chronicles 33:12 “And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,”
vs. 13 “And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication.”
I may be right, but I do not have to prove it. I may know more on a given subject, but I do not need to exhibit my expertise. I may have wisdom in some special area, but it does not have to be shared unless sought.
The pride that causes me to vaunt myself over another is not only unwise, but it will also cause me to lose the hand of God in my life. A distaste for arrogance ought to be developed; like a child and spinach, we ought to turn our heads and feel disgust. Humility can hardly be trained into our spirit while we devour hours of television and rarely read our Bibles.
Pride and self-sufficiency will curse the child of God, but humility and submission to the Bible will bring blessing.
Pastor