1998-01-18 - Pride

Pride is a pretty popular American trait these days. But God's word doesn't have the same opinion of it, as the world. This is not to be confused with a healthy self-esteem - as someone has said "God don't make no junk," and in fact, I believe that to underestimate our God-given abilities and our value are both dishonest and dishonoring to our Creator, who loved us so much He sent His son to die for us. Here is some of what the Bible has to say regarding pride.

(Psa 75:5 NNAS) Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.

(Prov 11:2 NNAS) When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.

(Prov 14:3 NKJV) In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

(Isa 2:17 NNAS) The pride of man will be humbled And the loftiness of men will be abased; And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

(Zep 2:9-11 NKJV) Therefore, as I live," Says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah; Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant of My people shall possess them." ¹⁰ This they shall have for their pride, Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats Against the people of the LORD of hosts. ¹¹ The LORD will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations.

(Mark 7:21-23 NNAS) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, ²² deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. ²³ "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.

(1 John 2:16 NNAS) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

(1 Tim 3:2-6 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ³ not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; ⁴ one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence ⁵ (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); ⁶ not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil."

(Prov 13:10 NKJV) "By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

Jan