Lifted Up With Pride

The Sin of Pride

Shelby G. Floyd

February 2, 2007

Both the Old and New Testament warns against pride. Someone has said that,

“Pride may be considered as the parent of discontent, ingratitude, covetousness, poverty, presumption, passion, extravagance, bigotry, war and persecution. In fact, there is hardly an evil perpetrated but pride is connected with it in a proximate or remote sense.”

Pride Keeps Bad Company

Pride keeps bad company, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7: 21-23.)

Pride Loves to Boast

Pride has a tendency to cause the person that is filled with it to boast of his accomplishments, and to commend himself to his fellow man. Paul said, “For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” (2 Corinthians 10: 18.) And Solomon said, “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27: 2.) The person that is filled with pride usually seeks to justify himself.

The Parable of the Publican and Pharisee

Jesus spoke the parable of the publican and the Pharisee to those persons who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous and despised others. The Pharisee stood and prayed with himself, and thanked God for his goodness. He put all mankind into one class, and himself into another class. He justified himself and condemned the publican; but Jesus said the publican went down to his house justified, rather than the Pharisee. Solomon said, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.” (Proverbs 16: 2.) He also said, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20: 6.)

The Pride of Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the great Chaldean kingdom, had a dream which none of his wise men, soothsayers, Chaldeans or astrologers could interpret. So he called Daniel, whom he recognized as being inspired, and having a power to interpret dreams which none of his other subjects had. In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a tree in the midst of the earth that was very great: its height reached up to heaven; the sight of it was to the end of the earth; the leaves on the tree were fair; and the tree had fruit, so much so, that the beasts of the field were able to live from the food on the tree. The beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, found their shelter from the mighty boughs of the tree. But, Nebuchadnezzar saw a watcher and a holy one come down from heaven and give a decree to hew down the tree, cut off the branches, shake the leaves and scatter the fruit. He saw the beasts of the field and the fowl of the air scatter from under the tree. Nevertheless, the watcher and the holy one decreed that the stump of the roots of the tree should be left in the midst of the tender grass of the earth, and that it should be wet with dew of heaven. He also decreed that the heart of Nebuchadnezzar should be changed to that of a beast until seven times pass over him.

When Daniel interpreted the dream, be stated that the tree symbolized Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom; for like the tree, his kingdom had become great, and the dominion of it reached even unto the end of the earth. Like the tree that was to be hewn down, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that he would be driven from among men; they would make him to eat grass as an ox, and he would be wet with dew from heaven until he realized that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and sets over them whomsoever he will. But he assured him that his kingdom would remain sure unto him since be saw the stump of the roots of the tree remain in the earth.

In the days of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon, was “the beauty of the Chaldeans excellency” and one of the wonders of the world. It was noted for its hanging gardens, its mighty walls, its many streets and the beautiful Euphrates River, that ran through the midst of the city. A year after Daniel had interpreted the dream of the great tree; Nebuchadnezzar walked in the palace of his kingdom and said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4: 30.) Even while the word was still in the mouth of the king a voice from heaven spoke to Nebuchadnezzar and told him his kingdom was departed from him; that he would be driven from among men to eat grass as an ox, and to live with the beasts of the field.

After the understanding of Nebuchadnezzar returned, he realized that it was because of his pride that all of this had come upon him. Therefore, he humbled himself and said, “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” (Daniel 4: 37.) To walk in pride is reprehensible in the sight of God. By way of definition, “Pride is inordinate and unreasonable self-esteem, attended with insolence and rude treatment of others.”

Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way that,

“Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

(Proverbs 16: 18.)

Pride is Destructive in Nature

Pride then is destructive in its very nature. Solomon said, “The Lord will destroy the house of the proud...” (Proverbs 15: 25.) And he said, “A man’s pride shall bring him low.” (Proverbs 25: 23.) Jesus said, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased.” (Matthew 23: 12.)

God Hates Seven Things

God hates six things, and the seventh is an abomination unto him. The first one mentioned in that list of seven is “a proud look.” (Proverbs. 6: 16-17.) “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16: 5.) In the New Testament James says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.” (James 4: 6.) Again Solomon said,

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;

Pride and arrogance and the evil way

And the perverse mouth I hate.”

(Proverbs 8: 13.)

What is the Good Life?

The prophet Micah described the kind of life that is approved of God when be said,

“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?”

(Micah 6: 8.)