Proverbs 21:2-4 - “2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.”
I think we don’t realize how prideful we are. If a person can’t apologize to someone, they are prideful. If you won’t ask for directions, you are prideful. If you won’t ask for help, you are prideful. Maybe even, if we are quick to argue, we may be prideful. If we won’t listen to someone tell us a better way, or different way to do something, we are prideful.
Romans 1:28-32 - “28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
Have you ever read the first chapter of Romans? Eye opening. I was reading it to some ladies at the nursing home one day and they ran me out! They’d never read it (and were about 80 yrs. old) so didn’t believe it was really God’s Word. They, like a lot of people, had only listened to what their preacher preached about. I used to be just like them.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
I’ve just printed these Scriptures from God’s Word that discuss pride for us to read, so it can sink in, how God feels about pride in us. God’s Word is healing to us, and helps us change. My bible tells me that our Christian walk (and the improvements God does in us) take a lifetime. Some things about ourselves only Jesus can change, from within. We can’t help where we’ve come from, but holding onto Jesus, we are now able to choose where we go. And in Christ, we can be free of all the chains! Our chains are gone, we’ve been set free! Our God, Our Saviour, has set us free!
1 Timothy 6:17 - “17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 - “1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:from such turn away.”
In Timothy the word “highminded” is used but it’s still prideful. Vaunting yourself is not being humble.
James 4:5-6 - “5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5 - “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
Proverbs 16: - “16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Don’t be too proud to resist Jesus! If you are in church and you have an opportunity to walk up and receive Jesus, do so, while your blood runs warm in your veins. When it’s cold, it’s too late.
1 John 2:20-15 - “20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father:(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.”
Ezekiel chapters 25-32 convey a story of pride… if you care to read it.
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