Pride needs to be sacrificed, not celebrated!

Welcome to the latest edition of my blog. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

A friend encouraged his 7-year-old son after he told him he did not like himself or his appearance. My friend began to tell his son that the greatest love a person has is for himself or herself. He continued to tell his son that pride in his abilities must be nurtured for a happy life. 

Was this a wise counsel a father or a mother could give his son or daughter? Or is this advice harmful and possibly cause trouble for this young lad and everyone he will have a relationship with?

In today’s society, we teach our children to be proud of what they are and how they were born. Parents teach us to love ourselves before we can love others. Artists even make songs stating that learning to love yourself is the greatest love. Society today even teaches school-age children that if they do not like to be boys or girls, they can switch gender so they can be proud of themselves. 

Is “Pride” a good thing for us to magnify in ourselves?

How does God, our Creator, see pride?

For this study, a “proud person” opposes God’s will and what is written in His holy Word. There is a pride, a confidence, that is not sinful, but pride, if fed, will take over, sneak on us, and become harmful.

Most people were taught in Sunday school that the “original” sin occurred in the Garden of Eden when Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. Yes, the original “human” sin occurred in the Garden of Eden, but a greater sin took place before that sin.

Before God created man, He created the angels. One of these angels was so beautiful that because of his splendor, he rebelled against God, wanting himself to be a god and usurp God’s authority. 

The prophet Isaiah wrote this about this angel:

For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.  Isaiah 14:13-15

This angel, Lucifer, the Covering Cherub (AKA devil, Satan), became proud and opposed everything God created. He was in the Garden of Eden and seduced Eve into sinning. When Adam sinned, the devil stole Adam’s authority on earth. When Jesus died on the cross, He restored that authority on man when we pray in Jesus’ name. That is why we have authority over demons and evil spiritual strongholds.     

The prophet Ezekiel explains further:

…“You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. Ezekiel 28:12-17

He was perfect from creation until he sinned. His heart was “LIFTED UP” because of his beauty. This is what Pride is, thinking of ourselves more than we ought to (Romans 12:3). Pride is listed as one of the 7 things that God hates; for a good reason, it corrupts the wisdom of His creatures.

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

A “proud look” is walking around as if we created ourselves and have the power to change our destinies how we see fit. A “proud look” is like looking in the mirror and saying what a beautiful person I have made myself to be. I make my own decisions. I do it my way. Look at the abundance of the things I possess. Look at all the people I can call friends, etc.

It is a self-centered life that ignores the fact that all we are and all we have been given to us by God. 

Is “Pride” a good thing for us to magnify in ourselves?

There are 3 points about “pride” I will discuss:

(1) A “proud person” says look what I have become; look how I made myself.

King David says this of God:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Psalm 139:13-15

Changing, denying, or revoking what God created is a sinful, proud, and harmful act. God created us one of two genders. To get confused and think we are something else is the working of the devil that hates all God has wonderfully and fearfully made. 

(2) A “proud person” says look what I have done with my life, all the things I possess, the great intelligence I enjoy. 

The Apostle Paul says this of Jesus Christ:

for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ Acts 17:28

Every human being God created, whether good or evil, enjoys breathing the air and the rain He provides (Matthew 5:45). Without Jesus, we cannot do anything (John 15:5). Yet we walk around saying all the great works we have accomplished without honoring Him, who has made it possible for us to live, move, and have our being. 

(3) A “proud person” first seeks what is good for himself or herself.

A godly person first seeks to honor God and crucify any pride in himself or herself. He or she truly understands that ALL blessings come from God, and to boast about anything but Christ Jesus, who died so we can live, is to deny Him and all He has done for us. 

The Apostle Paul, who had every right to be proud as the writer of most of the new testament, says this about pride:

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Paul is saying the world has nothing for me; everyone who loves the world seeks to be proud and compare their accomplishments with each other. The devil tempts us with three general sins which seek to dishonor our Creator:

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 1 John 2:16

Jesus said that instead of walking around with a “proud look,” we should look to become like little children:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-4

When very young, children do not desire authority (to be the boss), do not regard outward distinctions, are free from malice, are teachable, and are willingly dependent on their parents.

Jesus, in one way, is saying:

(1) We need to be dependent on Him always:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

(2) We need to stop comparing ourselves:

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12

(3) We need to be teachable by the Holy Spirit:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14

(4) We need to look out for others first:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3

Later on in the gospel, Jesus put the exclamation point on pride and boasting as a godly person:

But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11

In closing:

To “proudly” live in opposition to God and His holy Word is to say to Him, “Thanks but no thanks, I will do it my way, I will make my heaven, I know better, I do not need you!

Let us seek God and trust Him with all our hearts while He can still be found!

To God, be the glory!

Everything was created By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-25

Disclaimer

I write this blog as I get inspired by God. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans In Acts 17:10-11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother, In-Christ, Ricardo