God sure has something against pride. Throughout the Bible, God passes severe judgement on the proud. Look at some of the scriptures that speak of pride.
- “The LORD tears down the house of the proud” Prov. 15:25
- “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Prov.16:5
- “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. 16:18
- “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Jam. 4:6
Why is pride so bad? Pride, according to Merriam-Webster, is an inordinate self-esteem, justifiable self-respect, delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship. Pride says, “Look at what I’ve done, who I am, what I have!” Pride is all about me, myself, and I. When I attribute my successes to my own hard word, effort, skill, smarts, strength, or other characteristic that I possess, then there is no need for help from others. Those who don’t succeed as I have are less than myself and I look down on them in with disdain. If I am not careful, pretty soon getting to heaven becomes just another task that I can accomplish in my own strength.
“In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Ps. 10:4.
Pride clouds my judgement and n my pride I forget the One that has given me all that I have. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” Jam. 1:17 and “He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:25. Everything I have, including my life, is a gift from God. Anything good in me is a gift from God. But pride takes those gifts and makes them a possession, something that somehow I obtained.
“When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” Hos. 13:6.
There is no room for pride our lives because with pride, there is no room for God in our lives.
