Are You Hung Up On Pride?

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The Bible warns us of pride. This feeling is not of God. Instead, it is from the world. Satan’s pride led to his fall from grace (Ezekiel 28). We should examine our hearts daily to see if pride has wiggled its way into our hearts.
“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.” 1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
Pride is listed as one of the six things the Lord HATES. Proverbs 6:16-19 mentions haughty eyes. Google defines haughty as, “proud, arrogant, vain, and pompous.” To be prideful is to forget that our Creator gave all we have to us. Our intelligence, talents and beauty were designed especially for us. We did not come by them on our own and have no right to arrogantly flaunt special attributes.
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV)
God gives beauty (intelligence, gifts, etc.) to individuals for a reason, His glory. They are also helpful when used for the betterment of others. Human beings are attracted to good-looking people. This attention is useful to public speakers, missionaries, and leaders intent on sharing the Good News. Sadly, special gifts and attributes have caused the downfall of many people, including numerous Bible characters.
Absalom, the third of David’s six sons is considered the most beautiful man in the Bible. All of Israel admired his good looks. Without a single blemish from head to foot, he was blessed with thick heavy hair. Sadly, this asset, which brought much pride eventually led to his demise.
“Now in all Israel, there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard.” 2 Samuel 14:25-26 (NKJV) 
Absalom ended up hating his father, King David. He used his position, beauty, and charm to lead an uprising that became a civil war. Even though the King told his mighty fighting men to ‘deal gently’ with his rebellious son, Absalom met an early death. Pride was his downfall.
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
David gave strict orders that Absalom was not to be killed, but while fleeing on his mule through the woods, Absalom was entrapped when his long hair became entangled in the branches of a Terebinth, and in spite of the kings instructions Joab kills Absalom.
Ironically, Absalom’s hair, one of the many things he took pride in, became entangled within the branches of the Terebinth tree. Trapped and hanging between heaven and earth, Joab and 10 young men found the traitor and killed him.
“Then Joab said, ‘I cannot linger with you.’ And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.” 2 Samuel 18:14-15
Pride puffs up and causes one to think too highly of them self. Our reliance is to be in Christ. It is through His strength that we are enabled to accomplish the works He has prepared for us. If we rely on our own strength we will never get them done.
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” says the Lord.Obadiah 1:3-4 (NKJV)
When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV)
“The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility… According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” ~ C.S. Lewis
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Luke 21:36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

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