God Resists the Proud – Part 3

The Word of God has quite a bit to say about why God resists the proud, being proud, and its destructive effects.

Proverbs 6:16-19

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.  (NKJV)

The Effects of Pride

Everything listed in this passage stems from a heart of pride, which is why it’s listed first. Why does God resist the proud? It’s because pride will lead to estrangement and harm, not only to those who practice it but to everyone else those people come into contact with.

The essence of being proud is that we set ourselves up as the ultimate judge of what we do instead of following God. God resists the proud because the motivation of pride is centered on self. Just like Lucifer, we make ourselves the center of our lives and not the One Who made us.

Psalms 10:2-4

The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; he blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord. The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.  (NKJV)

Pride and the Church

Sadly, pride is not excluded from those who follow Jesus. The Bible is clear that being proud is a trap that believers can fall into and it’s a trait of certain believers in the last days.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (NKJV)

The practice of operating in pride worked its way into the early church, just as it does today. James goes into some interesting details about how it adversely affects everyone it touches.

James 4:1-5

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?  (NKJV)

Fighting and arguing, hatred, covetousness, and ineffective prayer are what we can expect to experience if we give in to pride.

Pride Defiles and Corrupts

God resists the proud because He likens it to spiritual adultery.

God resists the proud because He considers those who practice pride as aligning themselves with the world against Him.

Does this sound familiar? It sounds familiar to me because I’ve seen it played out in churches that I have been part of. Have I experienced it personally? Sad to say, yes, I have. Have you?

Scripture paints a pretty bleak picture for those who give into pride. Is there any relief? Can we avoid pride and stay pure before God? The answer is a resounding YES!

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