Issue 1807 – Pride – September 10, 2023
It was a typical summer sight. The double-breasted cormorant stood in the fading sun, drying his wings after fishing. They stand with their wings wide open, allowing the water to drip off and the sun to warm them.
I chuckled to myself when I saw it, because while the pose has a very practical purpose, it seems quite pompous. With their wide spread wings, they look very proud, and they remind me of arrogant little generals strutting in their dress uniforms.
This morning, I want to talk about pride, and no, I do not mean a family group of lions. Seeing the cormorant made me think of the way God must shake His head at us when we get all puffed up in our pride. “I” have done this. “I” have done that. “I” have been here or there. “I” am a self-made mad (or woman). “I” make this amount of money. “I” live in that neighborhood.
Of course, none of us has done it on our own. While there may indeed have been great effort placed into obtaining whatever the pride is rooted in, there are always others involved and circumstances that we had no control over.
There is nothing wrong with a healthy sense of accomplishment, but when it descends into pride and arrogance, it can be deadly. God is not impressed with our pride. He knows the inner person, and He knows all the pieces that went into making that “I” accomplishment a reality, including His grace and provision.
The Bible cautions against pride. In fact, pride and wickedness often go hand in hand in the Scriptures. This is also true in our own lives. Oh, how we boast about the stupid and evil things we have done and the way we have managed to “get away” with things.
Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them.He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might.He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.
Psalm 10:1-15
God does lose patience with our pride and wickedness, though. Now, you might be thinking, “I have a little pride, but that is not the same thing as wickedness.”
Actually, pride is the very root of all sin and wickedness. It is the evil seed that causes rebellion and a desire to be in control of all things, even above God. It was pride that drove Adam and Eve to eat the fruit and caused the fall of all humankind.
The Apostle Paul understood the dangers of pride.
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.Galatians 6:14
Our boasting is to be in the Lord, not in ourselves. God is the one who deserves the glory. When we puff up with pride, we usurp Him of that which is rightfully his.
Until next time, may all your boasting be in Christ.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed,
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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