Pride

Pride in your own strength and efforts.

• Pride leads to shame-Proverbs 11:2 (KJV) When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Pride can get in the way of progress in our spiritual lives when God is working in our lives so that we can grow.  The reason pride leads to shame is that it it shameful to think that we can do anything in life apart from God's love, will, or power.  Also, it is a form of idolatry; when we think we can accomplish things in life without God's will.  It is like we are placing ourselves above God.  We can never be above our creator.  It's just not possible.  It is shameful because it was pride in lucifer (the fallen angel of light) that got him cast out of heaven.  We exist because God has allowed us to exist.  So, how can we think that we can accomplish anything without God's will?  We need to be careful with selfish pride and ambition.

• Pride leads to arguments-Proverbs 13:10 (KJV) Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Pride leads to arguments when man believes in his own knowledge and wisdom that he is more than God, that he is above God in any way, or that he is correct, and that God is not correct.  When he places his wisdom over God's given wisdom in His word, this leads to arguments, because God cannot lie, nor agree  with man's foolishness.  Man in his highest state of intelligence cannot compare to God's lowest state of intelligence, wisdom, or foolishness if God has any.  We need to understand, and come to terms with the fact that God is Sovereign.  God does not have to answer to man.  Man has to answer to God.

• Pride will be punished-Proverbs 16:5 (KJV) Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Pride will be punished because God calls on His children to live a life of sanctity and humility.  We should not be so proud that we cannot (1) submit to God concerning all areas of our lives over our own selfish desires; (2) Help our fellow Brothers and Sisters in time of need when we are able to (3) Deny our selfish desires to please God, or make Him proud of Us as His children.  So, even if we obtain approval, agreement, or support from fellow human beings to continue a life that's self-reliant, prideful, or blatantly disrespectful to God, and even if we are supported by certain churches, groups, or authoritative powers,  if we do not let go of our selfish pride and ego, and submit to God as our LORD, Master, and Creator; God will punish us because He loves us and does not want any to perish.

• Pride ends in destruction-Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride can destroy a person in many ways.  If a person is overcome by pride, not only do they offend God, they offend others.  This can destroy relationships.  If we are arrogant, and we think that we are above God or others, we fall from the grace of God.  Our arrogance brings punishment from God, curses over our lives.  We should let go of pride and arrogance, and seek God's love, wisdom, humility, and grace.  

• Pride cuts us off from God and others (Luke 18: 9-14)-Luke 18:9 (KJV) And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Luke 18:10 (KJV) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  Luke 18:11 (KJV) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  Luke 18:12 (KJV) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  Luke 18:13 (KJV) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  Luke 18:14 (KJV) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

When a person is prideful, they believe that they are better than others.  They believe that they are justified in the eyes of the LORD above others by living their lives in a certain way, or doing a certain thing (for example the Pharisee).  We cannot say that we are without sin, because since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, we are fallen from grace, and therefore, born in sin.  God wants us to recognize that we are all sinners, and that we all need His forgiveness.  So, we should not be in certain circles, despising others, or singling them out; nor rejecting them.  We should live in Unity with God and one another.  The Church is justified by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary only.  Not by our own effort.  We should live to make God proud.

• There is no place for proud boasting in the Christian life-Romans 3:27 (KJV) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

We cannot boast about our own efforts, because we know that the blood of Christ is the only way that we are justified in the eyes of the LORD.  Therefore, we cannot say "I am better than this Brother or Sister, or others, because I do not do this, that, or the other".  Our justification comes from Christ, not our own accomplishments.  It is He who has created the world, and everything in it.  It is He who has died for our sins.  It is He who allows us to live this life, and accomplish things.  It is He who deserves the praise.

• God chose to reveal himself to the humble, not the proud (1 Corinthians 1: 26-31)-1 Corinthians 1:26 (KJV) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 1 Corinthians 1:27 (KJV) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 1 Corinthians 1:28 (KJV) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 1 Corinthians 1:29 (KJV) That no flesh should glory in his presence.  1 Corinthians 1:30 (KJV) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 1 Corinthians 1:31 (KJV) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

God chose to reveal himself to those who recognize that they are sinners, and that they need God.  He has not revealed Himself to the proud or boastful.  God has chosen the least in this world to humble the proud.  He chooses the smallest individual to teach His wisdom and power to those who are proud and boastful.  God does not want us to glorify anyone or anything over Him.  So We God's Children should be boastful in HIM.  We should be proud that He has saved us and given us His love, salvation, wisdom, and power.

• Pride is not compatible with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-26)-22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

When a person is spiritual, they cannot be prideful.  A spiritual person cannot be comfortable with pride or arrogance.  Therefore, a spiritual person or Christian person cannot join prideful circles, nor join in matrimony with prideful, sinful people.  We cannot join in a scornful circle.  We cannot want people to glorify us rather than God.  God deserves the credit for all of our virtues.  Everything we have we have because God has given it to us.  Any power given, has been given by God.  We should not provoke one another into anger or temptation, nor should we desire the virtues of another.

• God opposes the proud-James 4:6 (KJV) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

God does not want people to be prideful, as we see here, pride is foolishness in the eyes of God.  Therefore, God blesses the humble.  And He gives Us more grace.  God cannot bless the prideful.  He must let their eyes be opened by their own foolishness.  They should learn the lesson He is teaching by exalting the humble.  I hope this study has blessed you as it has blessed me.  Let us all remember to humble ourselves before the LORD so that He can continue to pour out his blessings upon our lives.  God bless you!