Beware of Pride

Scripture: Romans12:3 - 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.

Isaiah 23:9 -  The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

Pride is an attempt to appear in a superior light.  It is an inflated sense of one’s own worth and importance. Pride is often driven by poor/low self worth/esteem and shame – that we compensate by feeling superior to others. That is a form of self deception.

The book of Proverbs has numerous warning scriptures on pride.  Some of them are as follows:
•Proverbs 8:13 – the fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
•Proverbs13:10 – Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
•Proverbs 29:23 – A man’s pride shall bring him low, but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
People will look for others’ flaws to make them feel ok with their flaws. Pride causes us to assess our lives by our own standards/accomplishments rather than how God sees us. When someone is prideful, he always believes he is right.  It is hard to admit he is wrong.  He is easily offended, and he won’t ask for assistance.  He tends to interfere I the affairs of others and is self righteous. Prideful people are insensitive to the feelings of others, and frequently brags about his/her accomplishments. Also, relationships will be damaged.  

We have to realize that being prideful is a sin – in which grieves the Lord.  We have to see the seriousness of being prideful.  God resists those who are prideful (Isaiah 23:9). Unfortunately, prideful people don’t realize that they are prideful, but everyone around them recognize that they are prideful. No one is better than anybody else, but we are all inferior to Almighty God.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father:  Forgive me for sometimes being prideful. Help me to never think of myself as being better/higher than anyone. All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(by Marsha Williams)