Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when
your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,
then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out
of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty
and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard
rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble
and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power
and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your
God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which
He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them,
His Word says you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so
you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.” The real tragedy is that we often
depart from God in the midst of abundant blessings that He has given us. How has the Lord
blessed us? How long have we been enjoying the riches of the gospel? We are a people prime for a
fall if we fail to be humble. How is it possible for men and women with years of experience to leave
the Lord with almost no shame? As with all sin it begins in the heart. Someone has said that the
worst of all sins is pride. Why is that so?
There are several words that indicate pride: .Haughty, vainglory, snobbish look... Paul uses the
words puffed-up, to inflate, blow-up, blow out, to cause to swell up, or to make proud. Have you
ever said that someone is “full of hot air”. (Proverbs 25:14) “Like clouds and wind without rain is a
man who boasts of gifts he does not give”. Pride is an unrealistic view of ones abilities. The
scriptures clearly warn us. (Galatians 6:3) “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he
deceives himself”. Also (Romans 12:3) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not
think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in
accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Be sure you do not confuse the Bible sin
of pride with self-respect. There is a realm wherein we need to think. An inferiority complex is not
humility. Often these Christians will turn to pride as a mask of there internal insecurities where
they are not putting their trust in the LORD as they should.
Let us make sure that the kind of pride we posses is the kind that keeps the head and chin up and
not the nose! Pride comes from abundance, achievements and blessings, that is why it is so
dangerous. Knowledge is good, but watch for pride. What do you think our LORD thinks of a
prideful person? He tells us in the following passages found in (Proverbs 21:4; 6:16-19; 8:13; 16:5)
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin! There are six things the LORD
hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent
blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness
who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. To fear the LORD is to hate
evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. The LORD detests all the proud
of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” When our God makes such statements
about a sin we better flee from it!
Pride is the root cause of other sins we commit against God. (1 John 2:16-17) “For everything in
the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and
does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but
the man who does the will of God lives forever.” Still there is hope if one repents. Sadly enough
pride blocks repentance, because pride causes blindness and the hardness of ones heart, something
that most people cannot get over because they refuse from there pride to come to really know
Jesus. We should be living our lives to gain honor for Him and from Him not for ourselves or
others. (Matthew 23:5-12) "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their
phylacteries wide (prayer box worn on the forehead or forearm) and the tassels on their garments
long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they
love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be
called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on
earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for
you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
If we find ourselves on this proud path in life there is no need to fret, we have Jesus to turn us
back on His righteous path. Look to and trust in the LORD when you find yourself not right with
Him. He loves you, He will guide you back. There is one final word to those whom are overtaken
by there pride. (Proverbs 15:25) ”The LORD tears down the proud man's house but he keeps the
widow's boundaries intact.” (Proverbs 16:18) ”Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit
before a fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)”So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you
don't fall!” (James 4:6) “But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:” God opposes the
proud but gives grace to the humble."” Consider your ways my brothers and sisters as we all need
to do and keep yourselves from pride.
your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,
then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out
of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty
and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard
rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble
and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power
and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your
God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which
He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them,
His Word says you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so
you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.” The real tragedy is that we often
depart from God in the midst of abundant blessings that He has given us. How has the Lord
blessed us? How long have we been enjoying the riches of the gospel? We are a people prime for a
fall if we fail to be humble. How is it possible for men and women with years of experience to leave
the Lord with almost no shame? As with all sin it begins in the heart. Someone has said that the
worst of all sins is pride. Why is that so?
There are several words that indicate pride: .Haughty, vainglory, snobbish look... Paul uses the
words puffed-up, to inflate, blow-up, blow out, to cause to swell up, or to make proud. Have you
ever said that someone is “full of hot air”. (Proverbs 25:14) “Like clouds and wind without rain is a
man who boasts of gifts he does not give”. Pride is an unrealistic view of ones abilities. The
scriptures clearly warn us. (Galatians 6:3) “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he
deceives himself”. Also (Romans 12:3) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not
think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in
accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Be sure you do not confuse the Bible sin
of pride with self-respect. There is a realm wherein we need to think. An inferiority complex is not
humility. Often these Christians will turn to pride as a mask of there internal insecurities where
they are not putting their trust in the LORD as they should.
Let us make sure that the kind of pride we posses is the kind that keeps the head and chin up and
not the nose! Pride comes from abundance, achievements and blessings, that is why it is so
dangerous. Knowledge is good, but watch for pride. What do you think our LORD thinks of a
prideful person? He tells us in the following passages found in (Proverbs 21:4; 6:16-19; 8:13; 16:5)
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin! There are six things the LORD
hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent
blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness
who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. To fear the LORD is to hate
evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. The LORD detests all the proud
of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” When our God makes such statements
about a sin we better flee from it!
Pride is the root cause of other sins we commit against God. (1 John 2:16-17) “For everything in
the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and
does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but
the man who does the will of God lives forever.” Still there is hope if one repents. Sadly enough
pride blocks repentance, because pride causes blindness and the hardness of ones heart, something
that most people cannot get over because they refuse from there pride to come to really know
Jesus. We should be living our lives to gain honor for Him and from Him not for ourselves or
others. (Matthew 23:5-12) "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their
phylacteries wide (prayer box worn on the forehead or forearm) and the tassels on their garments
long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they
love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be
called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on
earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for
you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
If we find ourselves on this proud path in life there is no need to fret, we have Jesus to turn us
back on His righteous path. Look to and trust in the LORD when you find yourself not right with
Him. He loves you, He will guide you back. There is one final word to those whom are overtaken
by there pride. (Proverbs 15:25) ”The LORD tears down the proud man's house but he keeps the
widow's boundaries intact.” (Proverbs 16:18) ”Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit
before a fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)”So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you
don't fall!” (James 4:6) “But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:” God opposes the
proud but gives grace to the humble."” Consider your ways my brothers and sisters as we all need
to do and keep yourselves from pride.
| By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher |
| The Lords Church.org Ministries Website All Rights Reserved 2005-2008 |
|
The plague of pride is the greatest danger facing God’s people today.
Anyone who knows the history of God’s people well understands that
apostasy is common. Heed this warning to us all in (Deuteronomy 8:11-20)
“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe
His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day.
Anyone who knows the history of God’s people well understands that
apostasy is common. Heed this warning to us all in (Deuteronomy 8:11-20)
“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe
His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day.