By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:6
Let that verse sink in. God gives grace or divine enablement, supernatural strength to humble people. But He fights against proud people.
Pride is independence from God, and as human beings it is one of our chief sins. Yet we often don’t see ourselves as proud people.
Today I have another sermon to recommend. Dr Rand Hummel preached a challenging message which you can find here. Beginning 8:37 into the message he shares that he did a Bible study and found fifty-three manifestations of pride throughout the Bible. Below are a sampling of seven that he shared…
- A self-focussed life is a manifestation of pride. 1 Corinthians 13:5 ‘…seeketh not her own…’ Philippians 2:21 ‘For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.’ When trouble comes, if all my focus is, ‘What is this going to do to my schedule, my happiness, my comfort?’ that is pride. God fights against the proud.
- Having a lack of gratitude is a manifestation of pride. Romans 1:21-22 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.’ Ingratitude says, ‘I deserve everything God and others do for me, and probably a little bit more.’ This is pride. And God fights against the proud.
- Laziness is a secret manifestation of pride. Proverbs 26:16 ‘The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.’ When we’re lazy and don’t do the things we should do, we’re thinking about me. ‘I don’t want to go to bed so I can get up earlier and spend time with God.’ Our laziness is revealing our pride. And God fights against the proud.
- An angry, argumentative heart is a sign of pride. Proverbs 21:24 says, ‘Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.’ Proverbs 28:25 adds, ‘He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife…’ Then there’s Proverbs 13:10 which says, ‘Only by pride cometh contention…’ Proverbs 29:22 also says, ‘An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.’ How much strife occurs over petty things? If we are constantly angry with the people we’re supposed to serve, that’s a sign of pride. And God fights against the proud.
- Being devastated and defensive about criticism and being unteachable is a sign of pride. We read in Proverbs 13:1 ‘A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.’ The scorner doesn’t tolerate rebuke because he is unteachable. Proverbs 19:20 says, ‘Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.’ We hate to be shown to be wrong. If we get to the place where we think, ‘I’m right, and everybody else is wrong,’ that’s pride. And God fights against the proud.
- Believing that secret sins are no big deal is pride too. What was the secret sin of Sodom? Ezekiel 16:49-50 reads, ‘Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.’ When we think of Sodom, we think of the sin of immorality. Did you know that our selfishness and self-sufficiency grieves God’s heart just as much? We become the god of our lives. We make decisions that are best for us, and not the Lord or others. And God fights against the proud.
- Neglecting to ask or grant forgiveness is a manifestation of pride. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:23-24, ‘Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought [or anything] against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.’ We’ve all been sinned against. Are you willing to forgive those who sinned against you just as God has forgiven you? If there’s anyone on this earth that you refuse to forgive, you’re being proud. And God fights against the proud.
How can I be humble? Isaiah 66:2 says, ‘…to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite [crushed] spirit, and trembleth at my word.’ I must be God-dependent at all times.
If pride is independence from God, humility reminds itself each morning, ‘I need the Lord.’
Father, I need You. I see that You oppose me if I set up myself as Lord of my life. I don’t want You opposing me because I’ve learned that when You fight someone, You always win. Rather, I acknowledge that I need You for strength, for wisdom, for governing my thoughts and actions today. Thank You for this meditation on how pride exhibits itself in my day-to-day living. Help me today to yield myself to Your rule in my life. I ask this in the matchless Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.