Listening to the Holy Spirit:
Who among men is greater than the Father? Whom has walked in obedience as the Son? Yet there are those who rise up claiming strength and command, where neither is warrant. Such as these submit not to authority, for their pride is their king, and the world their slave. Such a spirit is not of God, as before Adam there was rebellion, and before grace came the enemy of grace. Beware of those who claim to be mighty, or those who receive not wisdom. Their ears are stopped and their heart hardened. As the parched earth beads the rain, so the heart of the prideful repel truth. Even among the Church they are, without hope – for arrogance, and without sight of sin – for pride. A brother of broad smile in peace, but a quick enemy in conflict. Do not be as one of these, for sin unseen is death, as silent infection rots the body. My children are fruitful of instruction, growing in wisdom and in destruction of pride. For where pride grows great the bushel never becomes, and where the ear turns aside, knowledge is laid waste. Great is the sin of pride, a shelter for many more, and many succumb to its draw.
3 John 9 (ESV) – I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
1 Peter 5:5-6 (ESV) – Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt
Rom 12:16 (ESV) – Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Prv 16:18 (ESV) – Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Taking It to Work:
It is said that pride is a disease which makes everyone sick, except for the carrier.
One of my favorite games to watch is rugby. My sons played it in their younger years, and it was non-stop action and hustle. Lots of fun, even as a spectator.
One of my favorite aspects of the game, the overall league, and I was explained, the worldwide rugby community as a whole, was their absolute distain for arrogance and disrespect. It was so refreshing; they always started with prayer, and high remarks for their opponents. You would see incredible plays, awesome teamwork, phenomenal athleticism, but you never saw one iota of showboating, and if you did, that player would be pulled for the rest of the game.
Strutting around, tooting your own horn, arguing with the officials, dancing in the end-zone (actually called the try zone); anything like that was absolutely frowned upon. The official was to actually referred to as “The Sir”, and the other team was to be held in high respect for every moment of the game. Never any trash talk, opponents regularly helped each other up from tackles, and if that opponent’s team happened to lose, there was a song of respect and honor sung by the winning team on their behalf at the end game. Around the world, at least from what I was told and witnessed, as rough as it is, real Rugby is truly a gentleman’s sport. Actually touted as “A game for gentlemen of all classes, but no bad sportsman of any class!”
Many of us would agree that arrogant pride is one of the most repulsive of sins, yet little is spoken of it; and of those that have it, most will be absolutely convinced they don’t. It is the simple sin of considering ourselves better than others, or thinking others less than us, but it can be very hard to see in the mirror. It can be spoken aloud, or be written in our eyes, but we can miss it for years. It is one of the trickiest sins. The Bible says it sets us up for a fall, leads to destruction, and is the sure mark of a fool.
Maybe you’ve witnessed a boss, coworker, or employee who displayed, usually unknowingly, this very repulsive character trait. What’s the best thing to do? Stand back, close your eyes, and ask the Lord, “Do I do that? Then brace yourself, as His Word works in you, today.
