◄ What Does Proverbs 29:23 Mean? ►

The Bible tells us much about pride, and together with a devious heart, dishonest scales, lying lips, and the lifestyle of the wicked, we discover that pride is detestable to the Lord. The sin of pride is placed at the head of a list of matters that God hates, for pride is spawned by an unhealthy presumption of superiority that is far removed from reality. Indeed, prideful arrogance has precipitated the downfall of individuals and nations, as can be attested in the pages of history.

Scripture reminds us that everyone with a proud heart will be brought low and a prideful man will not go unpunished. There are many scriptural warnings against pride which corrupts the soul, divorces a man from reality, and transforms self-righteousness into legalism. Pride contributed to the fall of Lucifer in the beginning and continues to be a root of many ungodly actions and attitudes.

When pride is recognised as the antithesis of grace, we begin to understand its destructive nature in the life of a believer and the wisdom to counterbalance it with godly humility. Scripture warns that pride and arrogance is iniquity and idolatry and the Bible forewarns that calamity will befall the proud, for pride will bring a man down to the ground.

Scripture makes us acutely aware that God resists the proud man but faithful people are His delight. God will deflate the proud person and bring him low, for Scripture reminds us that a prideful heart is detestable to the Lord, while those whose conduct is blameless are His delight.

The man or woman who is humble of heart is blessed indeed, for God gives grace to the humble and exalts them to elevated positions. He looks with favour on the humble and provides comfort and tender-mercies to the one who shows true humility of spirit.

It was pride that caused Satan to fall... and pride is the root which yields many unseemly branches and produces an abundance of sinful fruit. Pride is born out of selfishness and an absorption with self... and is manifested in envy and greed, covetousness and indignation, discontent, rebellion, prejudice, and stubbornness.

A man's pride will certainly bring him low, and as believers we should be very careful not to allow pride's destructive mindset to gain entrance into our heart. It is only when the purifying furnace of God's corrective hand is used to break us and empty us of self, that God can start to mould us and remake us into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus Who was the Personification of humility and grace.

Humility of heart is a quietness of spirit and a gentleness of disposition that seeks the best for others, even at the expense of our own hopes and wishes. It gives no room for fretfulness, irritation, disappointments, or distresses... and does not engage in the blame-game with others. It is not upset, offended, or annoyed when it is blamed, falsely accused, ignored, passed over, or not given credit when credit should be due.

Let us strive to prevent the insidious seeds of pride taking root in our heart and seek to prevent any fleshly habits and ungodly carnality from being manifest in our lives. Rather, let us feed on Christ in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving and allow the beautiful spiritual fruit of humility to blossom and bud in our inner being - so that the lovely character of the Lord Jesus may start to be seen increasingly in our lives - until we come to a measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ to the praise and honour of our heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your words of wisdom, warning, encouragement, and exhortation in the Scriptures. I pray that I may take to heart all that You would teach me. Keep me from prideful ways and I pray that in Christ, I may grow in grace and humility of heart - and that my life becomes a reflection of the character of Christ to Your praise and glory. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.