Pride is a symptom of a reprobate mind and is an abomination to God:
These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. – Proverbs 6:16-19
The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil. – Proverbs 16:4-6
The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. – Proverbs 8:13
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. – Mark 7:20-23
Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. – Ezekial 28:15-17
And does it not also rest at the very root of the sins we barely notice? Want, complaint, anxiety, worry, jealousy, disbelief?
And is it not the very reason people withhold mercy from one another – or judge one another?
At the moment God’s adopted children realize His power – there is nothing but abject spiritual humility in the presence of His glory.
Consider Paul who had every reason for pride in his day but he lost all of it on the road to Damascus when he was touched by the power of God:
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. – Philippians 3:3-16
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20
If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish [it], all that behold [it] begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:26-33
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” is an example to all of us who struggle with pride. If we need help to overcome our pride, He may also permit us to suffer a “thorn in the flesh” or He may prune us Himself.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. - John 15:1-5
Love God surpassingly above all else, believe Him, trust Him, give Him the glory!
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want...
Just perfect. Thank you so much for including me in the ping! I've been following your comments with my eyes, even if I'm not replying with my fingers!
It was while mulling over the concept of "pride" that I first realized everything negative and ungodly stems from pride -- "I can do it; I did it; I will do it."
When our hearts are turned from our abilities to His ability alone, we rightly see that gratitude is the proper response. Humility isn't even something we work for because it comes so naturally when we correctly understand...
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." -- Colossians 1:16-17"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
What could be clearer than that?
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." -- Mark 10:26-27"And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
That is another Spiritual Truth – nothing happens in the life of one of God's children unless either He permits it or does it. Let go and let God – He will never leave us or forsake us.
Amen!
"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." -- Romans 8:33
That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been..." -- Ecclesiastes 3:14-15"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
If heaven is only for those completely free of pride, it is going to be a quite lonely place. Lord help us all.
And they say spiritual pride is always the last to go.
No.
Pride is a symptom of a reprobate mind and is an abomination to God
Correct.
Does not pride rest at the very root of the most obvious sins? Murder, theft, adultery, disobedience, rebellion?
Yes.
And does it not also rest at the very root of the sins we barely notice? Want, complaint, anxiety, worry, jealousy, disbelief?
Yes.
And is it not the very reason people withhold mercy from one another – or judge one another?
Yes.
At the moment God’s adopted children realize His power love – there is nothing but abject spiritual humility in the presence of His glory.
True humility must be born out of unselfish love and not fear or ambition.
If we need help to overcome our pride, He may also permit us to suffer a “thorn in the flesh” or He may prune us Himself
Reality tells us that is not the case.