God Opposes the Proud

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity said this about PRIDE: “The essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride. Unchastity, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flee-bites in comparison: it was through pride that the devil became the devil (Ezek.28:17); pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” The problem of pride goes all the way back to the beginning of the human race. It was the sin of pride that caused our first parents to fall. They thought they could become like God. Pride is nothing more nor less than an exaggerated and dishonest self-evaluation. Pride says, “Look what I’ve done, look what I’ve achieved.  People should notice me, honor me, respect me…”

Whenever we have that attitude, whether it be spoken out loud or kept inside, it invites God’s opposition. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  If God opposes the proud, we ought to humbly ask God to reveal any pride in us, that we might repent and walk in humility. Some years ago I did a Bible study called Seeking Him. In one of the chapters, the authors Tim Grissom and Nancy DeMoss list 30 symptoms of a proud heart. Let me share with you 10 from their list that I feel are the most pertinent. Proud people…

1. Focus on the failures of others.

2. Have a critical fault-finding spirit.

3. Always have to prove they are right.

4. Desire to make a name for themselves.

5. Are quick to blame others.

6. Are overly concerned with what others think.

7. Have a hard time saying, “I was wrong; will you please forgive me?”

8. Are always comparing themselves with others.

9. Feel confident in how much they know.

10. Don’t think they have anything to repent of.

Do any of these statements describe you?  If so, spend a few moments now to ask God to search your heart and mind.  If the Lord, in his grace, reveals some pride you need to deal with, repent and invite his grace to forgive and cleanse you so that nothing will hinder God’s work in your life.