The height of pride lies in the belief that we know more than God. By rejecting God’s love and guidance, choosing instead to control the direction of our lives, we exhibit a boundless form of pride.
The brief message of the Prophet Obadiah begins with a statement about human pride and how deceptive it is.
Your proud heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rock,
whose dwelling is in the heights.
You say in your heart,
“Who will bring me down to the ground?”
Though you soar aloft like the eagle,
though your nest is set among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,
says the Lord. (Obadiah 1.3-4)
If our pride leads us to believe we know more than God, it is wise to examine the following Bible passages and evaluate whether we are making a good decision or not.
(1) Destruction and Downfall – In the time of Obadiah, the proud believed they were secure, having developed methods to ensure their safety during difficult times.
Like Obadiah’s audience, we need to evaluate our attitudes and actions in the light of the Bible’s teaching.
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).
(2) Pride Brings Disgrace – The deceptive nature of pride can lead us to believe that we are as exalted as the stars, soaring like eagles.
The better course is to choose humility rather than face the disgrace of being toppled from a high position built on deceptive self-worth.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).
Let’s not forget that we don’t have to strut around like a peacock to exhibit pride. All we have to do is look at God and say to Him, “I believe my way is better than Yours.”
The fear of the Lord is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as a laudable behavior. The fear of the Lord consists of a humble relationship with God, where we listen to His direction and follow it.
This is the opposite of pride.
(3) Pride as Opposition to God – As we follow our own way of life, mindless of the fact that God has something to say about how we are living, we need to realize that this behavior, which might seem innocent to us, is actually in opposition to God.
James condemns this inflated sense of self-sufficiency and rejection of God’s rightful rule. He writes, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
(4) Pride as a Barrier to Wisdom – The most difficult person to teach is the one who knows it all. Even more than that, the most difficult person to teach is someone who won’t even listen to God.
The Book of Proverbs designates such a person as a “fool.”
Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them. (Proverbs 26:12).
Our Response
I often mention that I write blog articles and create YouTube videos with Rudy Ross for my spiritual development. The accountability they provide keeps me actively studying the Bible.
The above passages about pride reinforce the importance of living daily in the fear of the Lord.
It’s a reminder that I should approach Him with humility every day, seek His guidance, and then act upon it. This is what truly constitutes the fear and love of the Lord.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 