PRIDE IN THE HEART IS ABOMINABLE TO GOD
“EVERYONE PROUD IN HEART IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD; though they join forces (hand to hand), none will go unpunished.”
Proverbs 16:5 (NKJV)
God detests pride. He does not want His children to depend on the self, live without His involvement in all they do.
God wants to be acknowledged, and whatever you want to do, He wants to be carried along (Proverbs 3:5,6).
When you refuse to inform God and receive His approval on what you are planning to do, it amounts to pride in His sight.
The notion of self-sufficiency is tantamount to pride in the sight of God:
"NOT THAT WE ARE SUFFICIENT OF OURSELVES TO THINK OF ANYTHING AS BEING FROM OURSELVES, BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD" (2 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV).
Note these points:
• A proud person’s plan would always be resisted by God: "BUT He gives more grace. THEREFORE HE SAYS: “GOD RESIST THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE" (James 4:6 NKJV).
READ: 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 3:34
• Pride gives place to the devil in a believer’s life, when such a believer is walking in disobedience to what God has instructed him or her to do.
• And you should know that you can only prevail over the adversary, the devil, by submitting to God: "THEREFORE SUBMIT TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU” (James 4:7 NKJV).
The devil would always be there to stand against you and to accuse you, being the adversary of believers; if you are not submissive to God (Revelation 12:10).
The devil knows you are in a contravention with God’s principle when you have pride in your life, thus he will use that as an opportunity to stand against you and oppose you (Revelation 12:10).
What does it mean to be submissive to God?
• Submissiveness to God means being ready and willing to embrace His plan and will for your life—in every situation and circumstance. Always have it in mind that God is interested in all you want to do, and He wants to have a say-so, a right of final decision, on them.
• It also means walking in the light of His Word, that is, living your life in line with His written Word—the Bible (James 1:21,22).
One thing you should not forget or overlook in our text, Proverbs 16:5, is that the word heart is mentioned; pride is of the heart.
Someone might look calm and coolheaded outwardly but inwardly the person might be full of pride—having a truckload of pride.
That is why, mostly, pride is not how someone looks but it is of the heart! Thus, God does not look the way man looks. God looks at the heart or motives with which someone does whatever he is doing: "BUT THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL, “DO NOT LOOK AT HIS APPEARANCE OR AT HIS PHYSICAL STATURE, because I have refused him. FOR THE LORD DOES NOT SEE AS MAN SEES; FOR MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART" (1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV).
6 THEREFORE HUMBLE YOURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD, THAT HE MAY EXALT YOU IN DUE TIME,
7 CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU.”
1 Peter 5:6,7 (NKJV).
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!