Pride

What is Pride?

Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness?
A sense of ones own proper dignity or value; self-respect independence?
Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association? i.e. parental pride?

Pride causes; war, divorces, division of families/friends, spiritual ruin, eternal ruin, emotional, financial, national, and domestic ruin. Pride ruins lives, destroys souls, pride populates hell. We can be too big for God to use but we cannot be too small for him to use, praise God! Pride is a terrible thing and God said it is a sin.

1 Samuel 24:1-22 -- Pride causes us to think we can manage life's situations ourselves and make our own plans. Saul and David illustrate 2 different approaches to handling pride. Saul's high opinion of himself resulted in a decision that was contrary to the Lord's commands. For example, after Saul defeated the Philistines, he reasoned in himself that he should take some spoils of the war, even though God had said otherwise (disobedience). When confronted by Samuel, he replied that "his plan" (pride) was to sacrifice the animals to the LORD. This was in opposition to the Lord's command. (Samuel 15:15). God saw through his excuse to a heart of pride. David allowed pride to dominate his thinking as well. Later on he coveted another man's wife, committed adultery and then murder but when he was confronted, his humble heart prompted repentance. David's sins were forgiven. Saul on the other hand went up and above on his own and never admitted he'd made any mistakes, and that led to his downfall. (1 Samuel 29-31).

To prevent prideful behaviour, we must refuse to act independently of the Lord. God wants us to experience victory in the Christian life, right here on earth, which is impossible in our own strength. That's why He sent the Holy Spirit to help every believer. We must refuse to act independently of the Lord. Like David, we should handle self-centredness by turning to God in confession.

Psalm 25:1-5--Life can seem rather confusing at times. Sudden changes in our circumstances or the behavior of others can make us wonder how to proceed. That's why God has given us His word as a reliable compass to point the way, especially in perplexing times. But we need an abiding trust in Him if we're to effectively use His guidance and follow His instructions.

We can know God is trustworthy because He is the One who created us, sent His Son to die in our place, and adopted us permanently into His family. He left no detail undone in providing for our salvation. With His great power, He resurrected Christ, and with that same power, He is able to keep every one of His promises. These are solid reasons for us to trust in Him. Relying on other things to determine our course of action-such as our reasoning power, material wealth, or feelings, shows a lack of trust. Seeking help and advice from other people instead of from God's word, is another indication of unwise and unhealthy independence from God. (2 Samuel 1-3)

A compass indicates four points; north, south, east and west - all of which are necessary for finding direction in the physical world. For guidance in living in the Christian life, Proverbs 3:5-6 also gives four points:

Trust God: He deserves our complete confidence because He alone does not change (James 1:17).
Do not rely on your own understanding. The human mind is finite, which limits comprehension. Only God is omniscient. EVERY thought and motive is visible to Him. There is nothing that He doesn't see. (Hebrews 4:13).
Acknowledge Him in all your ways. As the maker and saviour of all mankind, God has the right to plan every life. He knits each person together in the womb, provides redemption through His Son Jesus Christ, and gives spiritual gifts to be used on His behalf. Just as a child would look to his father for help, we as believers are to include our heavenly Father in everything. And while success may tempt people to feel proud, Christians must guard against such thinking, which can lead us in a harmful direction.
God promises to make our paths straight. Spiritually, the direct route is easier to travel and requires less time. But it is not obstacle-free. If we follow the first three directional signs the Father will work on our behalf to overcome barriers along the way.

Will you follow God's spiritual compass and trust Him wholeheartedly? As we reject self-reliance and regularly acknowledge dependence upon Him, we'll stay on the straight path of godliness. (2 Samuel 4-6)

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. (Proverbs 13:10)

Humility

To make meek and teachable, or the condition of being meek and teachable. Unassuming. To build up, praise and promote. Humility includes recognizing our dependence upon God and our desire to submit to his will. Pride is a lack or absence of humility or teachability. Pride sets people in opposition to each other and to God. A proud person sets himself above those around him and follows his own will rather than God's will.

Conceit, envy, hardheartedness, and haughtiness are also typical of a proud person. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate." (Proverbs 8:13)

Pride is the enemy that leads to false identification and future evil.
Pride promotes the false identity of self.
Pride makes one feel superior.
Pride takes pleasure in accomplishment.
Pride is the right hand of Satan at work.
Pride is both sides of the coin of ego balanced on one side.
Pride is the flower of ego.
Pride is the cover for shame, fears of failure and rejection

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT PRIDE

Pride causes one to use others. Acting out of pride as a social idol can lead others to oneself instead of to God. Pride can also manifest itself as a high opinion of one's nation (national pride) and ethnicity (ethnic pride).

Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:18)
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:25)
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 16:5,18)
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34)
You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down. (2 Samuel 22:28)
The LORD detests all the proud of heart. (Proverbs 16:5)
You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots (pride) of man: You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. (Psalm 31:20)
For the day of the LORD of Hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up -- and it shall be brought low. (Isaiah 2:12)
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride, and for the cursing and lying which they speak. (Psalms 59:12)
Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. (Psalms 62:9)
Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; the one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure. (Psalms 101:5)
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too proud for me. (Psalms 131:1)
For great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. (Psalms 138:6)
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise." (Proverbs 12:15)
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. (Proverbs 18:12)
Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man? (Proverbs 20:6)
There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. (Proverbs 30:12)
The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)
But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
Who says, 'Keep to yourself, Do not come near me, for I am holier than you!' These are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day. (Isaiah 65:5)
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let myself be enquired of at all by them? (Ezekiel 14:3)
But go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)
He who finds his life will lose it, and he that loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)
So He said to him, 'why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matthew 19:17)
So Jesus said to him, 'why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. (Mark 10:8)
So likewise you, when you have done all those things which are commanded, say, 'we are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' (Luke 17:10)
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: (Luke 18:9)
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. (Acts 10:34)
For there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:11)
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; (Romans 3:9-10)
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. (Romans 7:18)
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)
Therefore let no one boast For all things are yours. (I Corinthians 3:21)
For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (I Corinthians 4:7)
Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (II Corinthians 10:5)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (Philippians 2:3)
Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shameful set their mind on earthly things. (Philippians 3:19)
not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. (I Timothy 3:6)
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control brutal despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. (II Timothy 3:2-4)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted of the law as transgressors. (James 2:9)
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, 'God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. (James 4:6)/p>
Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resist the proud, and gives grace to the humble. (I Peter 5:5)
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. (I John 2:16)
He has scattered the proud in the imagination. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. (Luke 1:51b-52)
The loftiness (arrogance) of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men humbled. (Isaiah 2:17)
Before destruction, the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility. (Proverbs 18:12)
By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom. (Proverbs 13:10)

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!

You said in your heart,

'I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

in the far reaches of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.'

But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the far reaches of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7) May the joy of the Lord, be your strength as you walk according to His rules, peace, and humbleness. May the Father have mercy on you. Amen.

PRIDE

on the wall

ministries