Day 82 – 90 Days in Proverbs - With Pride
Proverbs 13:10 [KJV] Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.
Can it really be true that all strife and contention comes from pride? That is sobering, sisters, because pride seems to be a major component of human nature apart from God. But, any pride in us is a big deal to God.
God takes the evil of pride very seriously. And He takes it upon Himself to take down the prideful. Here are just two examples of Old Testament prophets outlining God’s warning to the prideful.
Jeremiah 50:32 [ESV] The proud one shall stumble and fall, with none to raise him up, and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all that is around him.
Obadiah 1:3-4 [ESV] 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, "Who will bring me down to the ground?" 4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.
These scriptures show how serious an issue that pride is to God.
Proverbs 16:18 [KJV] tells us Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Clearly, we cannot allow pride to prosper in our hearts or to have a role in how we live our lives. Thankfully, for believers who have committed ourselves to obedience, removing pride from our hearts is the work of the Holy Spirit. Meekness is one of its fruit. [See Galatians 5:22-23] Meekness is the opposite of pride. The two cannot dwell together in us.
If there was anyone who walked the earth who had great reason for pride it was Jesus. Yet, He came with humility and meekness to show us the way to walk humbly on the earth. [See Matthew 11:29 and 21:5]
Micah bottom lines, simplifies our calling for us. Micah 6:8 [KJV] He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Humility, the polar opposite of pride, is what God requires. We must walk humbly with God, acknowledging His greatness and our dependence on Him. When we really focus on the power and love of God; when we under that all blessings come from Him, it should be difficult to be prideful about anything we accomplish in this life.
Daniel 4, beginning in verse 28 tells the story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s pride. Even though he was warned that the Kingdom would be taken from him, he gave into pride about the state of his kingdom and had to live like an animal for seven years. God is serious about pride.
Lest you think that pride can only trip up the unconverted, listen to the message of Revelation 3:17-19 to the church at Laodicea: 17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, [that] the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. [NKJV]
Pride can trip any one of us up, if we are not vigilant. The Bible tells us that with pride, there is trouble, contention and destruction.
Dear sisters, let’s not allow pride to cause contention in our lives, whether at home at work or at church. Let’s turn away from pride that will ultimately destroy us. Instead, let’s follow Jesus’ example and Micah’s admonition to walk humbly on this earth, understanding that anything we accomplish is a gift from God.
Prayer – Dear Father God, Please remove pride from my heart. Help me to see that all I have comes from you. I am humbled by your love and your gifts to me. Please sew the fruit of meekness in me by your Holy Spirit and help me to walk humbly with you each day, following the example of your Son and my Savior, Jesus. It is in His name I pray. Amen.
Your thoughts —
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