BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
(Proverbs 16:18)
MEDITATION:
Satan has many weapons at his disposal and all of them are
designed to discourage us and ‘bring us down’. As long as he
can make us focus on our unworthiness rather than God’s
grace, he is having success in our lives.
Some of his weapons of destruction are obvious (they involve
temptation and sin), but he also uses some subtle techniques.
If he can increase our egotism and develop an arrogant pride
in us, then he will convince us that we will feel more worthy.
And when he is successful with this technique, he has gained
a foothold into our lives.
Everything he promotes is contrary to God’s instructions.
God wants us to develop a humble spirit and not an arrogant one.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
(Psalm 25:9)
The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
(Psalm 147:6)
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those
who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble. (Luke 1:52)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2)
Humble yourselves before the Lord,
and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)
How does God feel about arrogant pride? The bible is very clear
about God’s attitudes, and when we know His attitude toward
things, we know why we can’t tolerate them in our lives.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance, evil
behavior and perverse speech.
(Proverbs 8:13)
The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
(Proverbs 16:5)
God’s attitude toward pride is – God HATES pride.
Anything that God hates does not belong in our life;
anything God hates is a danger to us; anything God
hates can be destructive to us.
David, king of ancient Israel, found himself in the midst
of a confused national situation. His kingdom was torn
by internal strife. Slave hated master; master hated slave;
people blamed the government, and government blamed
the people.
David looked around at the people about him and saw that
every man thought of himself as perfect. Each individual
placed blame upon other individuals. David knew that if
sinful pride continued to increase, his nation would collapse
spiritually. He also knew that economic depression, moral
disintegration, or military defeat inevitably follows
spiritual decline.
So David turned to God, and it was revealed to him by the
Spirit of God that the spiritual tide of his nation could rise
no higher than the spiritual level of his own heart. So he
fell on his knees in utter humility and prayed,
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
try me, and know my thoughts: and see
if there be any wicked way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting”
(Psalm 139:23-24)
ACTION:
Who is in control in your life – God or Satan?
The amount of arrogant pride we have is a
good indicator of who is in control.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, deliver me from the sin of pride,
and fill me with continuing humility. Help me to be
humble in all things because I know how You love
the humble. Help me to eradicate egotism and arrogant
pride because I know that you hate arrogance. Teach
me to focus more on giving and encouraging others
instead of waiting on, and expecting them to give and
encourage me. Remind me of the importance of
encouraging Your servants.”
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