PRIDE, A VICE OR A VIRTUE
Proverbs 6: 12-19
We live in a world today where virtues are seen as vices, and vices are seen as virtues. But the Bible remains the standard point of reference revealing to us what we must accept as virtues or vices. God’s word declares we should have a balanced opinion of ourselves. Rom. 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
People become proud of their positions, earthly achievements, outward beauty, riches and the like. All these are temporal and have no lasting value in the light of eternity. A woman who becomes arrogant and authoritative soon becomes an enemy of her own self when her home begins to burn with raging fire. What keeps the redeemed humble is the fact that they always know all they possess comes from God, and not by their power. When you become proud, you simply say you are what you are by your own power. Because if you acknowledge God as the giver of all you possess, you will remain humble and give Him the glory.
A proud and arrogant person only has Satan as a friend, and God as an enemy, because God resists the proud and boasters. Jam. 4:6 “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” We have many examples of how God dealth with proud despots in the Bible days. Jezebel, an arrogant woman who had no respect for God’s servants died shamefully. Pharaoh was consumed in the judgment by God at the Red Sea. Nebuchadnezzar was taught a hard lesson by God. He was turned to an animal for seven years by God. Dan. 4:37 “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”
God will not allow into His Heavenly kingdom anyone who shares of the nature of Lucifer, now called the devil, who was driven from heaven due to pride. Titles, money, fame, popularity, will soon melt away with the passage of time. Tread softly, remain humble and give glory to God always, and never use your success in life to oppress others.
MEDITATION: Pride brings destruction; humility leads to promotion.
