Somehow, we have come to think that it is okay to say that we are proud of ourselves, of our accomplishments, our family, or whatever it is in our lives that seems good. I think we use that word far too often and we need to examine ourselves to see what is at the heart of our statements. The definition of pride is feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one’s own achievements, qualities, or possessions, or those of someone with whom one is closely associated. It is a showing of a high opinion of oneself or one’s importance. While the world is perfectly fine and even encourages this attitude, it is not in accordance with what God says.
In Proverbs 16:5 we see that “Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” The Hebrew word for abomination means something disgusting. Pride lends itself to an independent, self-sufficient spirit. It desires success and the accolades of men. Pride says, “I did this,” it forgets that the ability for anything we have accomplished comes from God.
In Proverbs 21:4 “A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” A person who is proud tends to look down on others who are not socially or economically in their circle. Without knowing the reason a person lost their job, or does not have a job, they make judgments. Without knowing the situation, they become critical of anyone who is different than them. They are as the person Jesus is speaking about in Matthew 7:3 “And why behold thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in thine own eye?” It is very difficult for a proud person to admit they are wrong and when they do it is usually prefaced with “Yes I was wrong, but….”
In James 4:6 and I Peter 5:5 “God resisteth the proud”. God is not interested in jockeying for position in our hearts. He must be first, or He will not be in us at all. He is the Lord God Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord means master and that is His place if we are saved.
In Proverbs 6:16-19 there are seven things that God hates, the first one listed is a proud look. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devised wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Hate is a strong word, it means detestable, and it places us as an enemy of God. We are never more like Satan than when we exalt ourselves and act as if we are in control or we are something special. That is what Lucifer did and why he was evicted from Heaven forever.
We all need to take a long look at our attitudes and actions to see if we are proud. I’m sure we have all shown this character trait from time to time, but it is wrong. Thankfully, God forgives the proud person when they humble themselves and seek Him. It is a sin we must constantly be on guard against. It is at the core of our sinful nature. Cain exhibited pride when he wanted to offer to God what he wanted to give God, not what God required. His pride drove him to jealousy and the first murder was committed.
There are some questions we can ask ourselves to help us determine if pride is an issue in our lives.
- Do I put others down to build myself up? Am I hyper-critical and looking for the mistakes in others?
- Do I desire to be served, or is it my pleasure to serve others without anyone knowing?
- Am I insulted or hurt when others don’t notice my achievements or others are promoted over me?
- Do I have a subconscious feeling that this church is blessed to have me?
- Do I have to prove I am right?
There are many other questions we could ask ourselves, but this points you in the right direction to examine your heart. No one is perfect and we will not be until we enter Heaven, but while we are here, we are to seek to be more like Jesus every day. With prayer, study, and the help of the Holy Spirit we can move forward and deal with our sin of pride and gain victory.
