God Resists the Proud – Part 2

Once we understand where pride originated, and all the terrible things that have happened as a result, it’s no wonder that God resists the proud.

Pride Affects Relationships

I was at small group last night and we discussed some things we can do to make our families (as well as those we witness to) stronger in their walk with the Lord. One of the questions dealt with allowing others to see your weaknesses, and it brought out some heartfelt responses. While some of us had seen godly examples of how our parents worked through conflict, the majority of us did not. The conversation then turned to how we deal with conflict and a pattern emerged.

If we’re honest, most of us will acknowledge that we don’t like showing others our weaknesses. This is true when it comes to our peers, but even more so when it involves our children or others whom we have authority over. We are proud and don’t want to appear weak or dependent on someone else. We strive to look as if we’ve got it all together, painting the picture of how we can manage just fine without any help or outside direction. We want people to give us the credit for what we’ve done instead of directing the credit to God’s gifts, provision, and direction. The attitude of being proud centers around everything “I” am doing, and it sounds disturbingly familiar.

Lucifer wanted to take control of his own life independently of God, and so do we. That heart attitude is called sin, and every one of us is born into it. Even when we have been born again we are still tempted to portray ourselves as self-made and without fault. Our relationships with others suffer because we are proud and try not to let people see us depending on God. Being proud creates a false sense of achievement and robs God of the thanks and gratitude He deserves. Worse still, it not only affects human relationships but our relationship with God!

Words of Warning

Lucifer gave in to pride and through the consequences of his rebellion we see how – and why – God resists the proud. We also see in Scripture that people encounter the same kind of resistance when giving into pride. People allow success to ‘go to their head’ and forget the One Who made them successful in the first place.

Hosea 5:4-5

They do not direct their deeds toward turning to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, and they do not know the Lord. The pride of Israel testifies to his face; therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them.   (NKJV)

Proverbs 16:18-19

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.   (NKJV)

Isaiah 9:9-12

All the people will know — Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria — who say in pride and arrogance of heart: “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars. “Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies on, the Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with an open mouth.  (NKJV)

Simply put, those who are proud steal the glory that rightfully belongs to God alone.

This is Part Two of a multi-part series. Keep watch for the next installment!