April 12 – Detestable Pride (Proverbs 16:5;n 1 Peter 5:5-6)

“The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”(Proverbs 16:5)

IN WORD:
Our world honors pride. We often give the most media attention to those who demand it. Athletes make arrogant claims and then are lauded for their competitiveness. Entertainers shamelessly promote their own image and then are praised for their confidence. Political and military leaders proudly wield their power over vulnerable people and are rewarded for their assertiveness. Making a name for oneself is an honorable business in the world’s culture.
We might easily be drawn into that philosophy if we don’t continually remind ourselves of God’s hatred for pride. It is a consistent biblical theme: Pride is repulsive. It directs glory inward instead of upward. It seeks the honor of the gifted rather than the honor of the Giver. It is far too impressed with the ingenuity and resourcefulness of human abilities. In its very essence, it ignores God. If we want to avoid it, we must always honor Him. We also must honor His hatred of it.
That’s hard to do. Pride is the foundation of self-will, which is the ultimate foundation behind every sin. It is deeply ingrained in us. We hate it in others, but we wallow in it when we’re allowed to. Whenever a little glory comes our way, we drink it in as though it’s the sweetest thirst quencher. But like other sweets, it has little substance. Eventually, no amount of honor will cover the fact that we’re needy on the inside. Something deep within us craves glory, but something deeper reminds us that we aren’t worthy of it. The depths of our soul know that God is the only worthy recipient of praise.

IN DEED:
Let every hint of pride be repulsive to you. Let God deal with those who seek their own glory; it is not our job to humble anyone. But the Bible repeatedly tells us to humble ourselves. Hate the pride that you are prone to love. Agree with God that it is a detestable thing. Send it away and seek His glory. His honor comes to those who do.

“Pride is utter poverty of soul disguised as riches.”
-John Climacus-