Pride

I did a post on envy and I could do many posts on that subject. Pride is another subject that I could do many on and I hope I do it justice. Let's look at a few scriptures on this subject.

2 Corinthians 10: 17- 18 "But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he who the Lord Commends."
I love how this verse begins. If you're going to boast, boast in the Lord, in His presence, in His power, in His grace. How true! Paul was an amazing man of whom was so Spirit filled and one minded in God and His ways. Paul through all his letters (epistles) shows by example the humility of which the Lord commends. He only boasts for the glory of God. He has no money, he tells Timothy at one time to bring his coat since he had none when it was cold, and he wrote many of his letters chained in Roman prisons. He never griped or complained, but kept "running the good race until finished" as he wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7. I bring all this up because it shows the true humility that Paul demonstrated for the gospel and as an example for us believers. Humility, of which I have talked before is the exact opposite of pride. Pride is a lot like money in the sense that it also is a root to all kinds of evil. It says in the Bible that money is the root to all kinds of evil, but I believe that pride and envy go hand in hand with that as well. Just look around, you see it everywhere today in society. Pride is a stronghold that can clasp onto us so easily that by the time we notice it it is hard to get under control. I've mentioned before in envy that an action we do so many times that leads into this sin is comparing. Comparing leads us into one of two things, being prideful or being envious. Both are serious sins we need to be extremely alert of. Pride is a sin that God will rebuke us of if we're not careful to quit and repent of.
Isaiah 2:11 "The pride look of man will be abased and the loftiness of man will be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day."
Proverbs 3:34 "Though he scoffs at the scoffers yet he gives grace to the afflicted." I've always taken this verse and other translations say it this way, that God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humbled and persecuted.

Let's look at an example of God against the proud in the Bible. 2 Chronicles 26: 16-23 I urge all to read this in their Bibles if you have the chance. This is a story of king Uzziah who was a God fearing man. What this story breaks down is he went into the temple to burn incense on the alter of incense. Now this is a practice that only the priests were allowed to do, but Uzziah being full of pride thought he could do it for the Lord. The priest told him get out of the sanctuary for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God. This enraged Uzziah and instantly leprosy broke out all over his face. Now notice here, Uzziah attempted to do the role of the priests which is forbidden in Levitical code. God judged this king's refusal to heed the law, but was merciful in that he did not kill Uzziah. With leprosy, Uzziah had to submit to the priests in a new way according to the laws of leprosy and endure isolation the rest of his life from the temple. He also lost his kingdom to his son because of the leprosy. The Lord never cured him of this and his son took over the kingdom and he even had to live in a separate house than that of his mansion and could never enter the temple of the Lord ever again. Some would almost prefer death than these circumstances in those days. He lost it all over disobedience because of his pride. It's not fun to hear stories of God rebuking people for sin, but it does happen then and now.

Let us not be prideful of anything we have, rather let us share with all our blessings and gifts from God. That's what Jesus would do. Let us not be prideful in our health, financial status, spiritual knowledge, works and deeds or material possessions. Remember the Lord can take all of it in the blink of an eye, literally.

My prayer for all is that we see the sin of pride for what it is and not become ensnared in it like we so easily do. Let us call on God for clean hearts and cleans hands washed by the blood of our Lamb and Saviour Jesus Christ. In all things let us put Him and His will and His glory first.

With love and prayers always.

C.