Pride

There is much this month about “Pride” – the word will be seen and heard often which warrants this Musing…

What should one think?

“Pride” per Daniel (Merriam/Webster) –

1: the quality or state of being proud: such as

a: inordinate self-esteem:  conceit

b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect

c: delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship // parental pride

2: proud or disdainful behavior or treatment

“Pride” per God –

Proverbs 8:13, The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way 

Proverbs 13:10, By pride comes nothing but strife

Proverbs 16:18, Pride goes before destruction

Jeremiah 13:15, Hear and give ear: Do not be proud!

Daniel 4:37, …those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

Amos 6:8, The Lord God has sworn by Himself: “I abhor the pride of Jacob…”

Obadiah 1:3, The pride of your heart has deceived you

I Timothy 3:6, …not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall 

Mark 7:21-22, Out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.

I John 2:16, For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

II Chronicles 32:26, Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them

So, Pride per God, is deemed something wrong, sinful, and/or evil.  Rather, humble is the way – the word.

James 4:10, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Leviticus 26:41, …and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt—

II Samuel 22:28, You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.

I Kings 21:29, Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. 

II Chron 7:14, If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves…I will forgive 

II Chron 12:12, When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him

Psalm 9:12, He does not forget the cry of the humble.

Psalm 25:9, The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.

Psalm 147:6, The Lord lifts up the humble;

Isaiah 57:15, For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit…”

Daniel 10:12, Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

Matt 18:4, Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 23:12, Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Romans 12:16, Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.

Isaiah 57:15, “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit…”

The Bottom Line: 

Psalm 138:6, Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.

James 4:6, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

I Peter 5:5, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Micah 6:8, 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?

So, HUMBLE is the word! 

This month, don’t let the overt use of the word “Pride” cause your mind to drift into thinking it something other than what God declares it to be.  Rather, seeing the word “Pride”, may we be reminded that God calls us to be “Humble”.