“…you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you BE SUBMISSIVE to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “GOD RESISTS (antitassomai: to range in battle against) THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.“ Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for HE CARES FOR YOU.” (1 Pet. 5:5-7) This is a very serious problem, if we act in a proud manner we go to battle against the Lord and we do not have ANY CHANCE of success in that kind of battle!
“All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore (says God), I hate PRIDE and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.” (Pro. 8:13) Is there any trait more deceptive? Is there any vice easier to see in others, but harder to see in ourselves? We despise its presence in them but defend its presence in us. It is the UGLY TRAIT OF PRIDE, one of a number of traits for which God has a special disgust. “The LORD detests all the PROUD of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” (Pro. 16:5) Instead of harboring thoughts of love to others, the proud man harbors judgment and bitterness. Instead of expressing kindness and compassion, he expresses ridicule. He is convinced of his superiority in achievement, intellect, morality, or spirituality. He is self-obsessed.
Pride appears first in the list of seven deadly sins because Solomon is scanning the body from head to toe, but also because no trait is more abominable than this one. No vice is more opposed to God. God hates pride because it is a MANIFESTATION OF THE DEEPEST DEPRAVITY, the root cause of all forms of sin.
This was exactly the folly of Adam and Eve when they determined to disobey God to BECOME LIKE GOD. “The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil. Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and A PROUD HEART, I will not tolerate.” (Psa. 101:4-5) So, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham