“An high look, and a PROUD heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” Proverbs 21:4
Pride is a very controversial word these days in our society. It has taken on many meanings and connotations. But, the pride that I want us to look at today is the one found here in this verse. It is the “high look.” The one which forces our nose and chin up into the air. Yep! You have seen this one before, have you not?
To be PROUD means “to be puffed up about your accomplishments; to think highly of yourself (that you are better or too good to do certain things); to trust in your own self and disregard the instruction of others (you think that you know better than others, especially those in authority over you).”
Pride is a powerful tool of the devil that can quickly and dramatically bring a child of God down in defeat. Pride can even be seen in a child of a very young age. Have you ever seen one who was so determined to climb a step or tie a shoe or ride a bicycle without help? There it is rearing its stubborn head right before your eyes … and in one so young.
What about we as adults? Do we let pride control our lives? Umm, I believe that we can claim a resounding, “YES!” on that one.
Pride can actually infiltrate many areas of our lives. We may be aware of one area, but have we checked all of the areas? When we went searching for pride in our lives, did we search every room? Did we search under every rug and behind every door? Well, let us see …
· In our finances – Do we trust God enough to give Him our 10%? Malachi 3:10a “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house …”
· In our friends – Are we are afraid that God won’t give us any friends, so we grab anyone who we can, whether they are a good influence on our lives or not? Proverbs 16:28 “A froward man soweth strife; and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
· In our time – Do we demand “ME first?” I Corinthians 10:24 “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.”
· In our sin – Are we willing to admit that we are wrong and ask for forgiveness, when needed? I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
· In our relationships – Do we think that we know more than our peers, our spouse, our pastor, or those in authority over us? Proverbs 3:7 “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”