7.25.14 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Psalms 10:4 Pride is a character trait. It can be a character flaw when you have an Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of ones own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. (Websters 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language) The world has taught us it is great to have a healthy self esteem and that we should take pride in our appearance and that its fine to be proud of your accomplishments. These are not bad things, they are actually good things when kept in check. However when your pride causes you to walk around with your nose up in the air, which is what the phrase pride of his countenance infers, it becomes evident you are so full of yourself and therefore, there is no room for God. The original expression of the verse read, the wicked in his haughtiness, (literally in the) height of his nostril will not seek God. Hence the expression, turn ones nose up. Anything which causes us to rely on our own accomplishments rather than what Jesus did is pride. Does that degree or diploma make you any smarter than anyone else? No, it simply means you took advantage of the opportunity to go to University, exercise your brain power, pass a series of courses and tests and were formally trained in an area, and therefore received a sheet of paper stating just that. According to neuroscience, everyone has the potential to become, say, a surgeon by training their brain. Good for you, those who have those pieces of paper. But what about the person who has no access to a university or institute of higher learning? Does that make them less superior than you? What about the one who has access, but chooses not to? Does that make you smarter than them? Wiser choice maker, maybe, but not wiser or smarter in other areas, necessarily. Just because someone exercised their brain power and received a degree doesnt make them superior in intelligence, rank, or wisdom. Just as someone who is model material because of their body shape, facial features, or height doesnt make them more beautiful or handsome than the average man or woman. It simply means a standard was set for beauty and they happen to match the standard set for a particular society. Did you know that in some cultures being slightly overweight is more desirable than being slim? So the fact that some people meet a certain standard does not mean everyone else is less desirable or ugly. In fact some measure beauty by worldly standards and end up with someone who is ugly on the inside. Pride (an inordinate self esteem) in those or any area of our life causes us to not rely on God for our esteem of ourselves, or to give wisdom and discernment in every decision we make. It is like telling God that we have accomplished this on our own, and that His input, His wisdom, His standards are not needed. Pride causes people to not seek God, and pretty soon, there is no consideration of Him at all. The thoughts of a man like that causes them to look down their noses at others, to turn their nose up towards those they consider less superior or beautiful or fortunate than them. Pride is a dangerous thing. It causes arrogance, it stirs up evil thoughts and it ruins many. What is the opposite of pride? Its humility. It is esteeming others over your own self. It is having a deep sense of your own unworthiness in the sight of God. It is realizing your pride is a sin, and the need to repent from it is necessary in order to be humble. God will exalt the humble and humble the proud. C. S. Lewis said, As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.” 206/365
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:58:56 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015