A few thoughts on pride and arrogance

[Susan]

I like the NIV, so I am using verses from it. If you prefer KJV, I'm sorry but I do not have the time to post dual references.  You can find the KJV version by substituting "KJV" for "NIV" in the links.  

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PROV+8:13&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on

From this verse, pride and arrogance are considered equal to "evil behavior and perverse speech." If you feel tempted to act proud or arrogant because you feel better in God's sight than someone else, think of it this way: arrogance and pride are equal to typing line after line of profanity and filth.

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PROV+11:2&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on

Pride brings disgrace, much like profanity and filth. The disgrace of a proud person is that, while they may be *right,* they subsequently shut down the ears of any listener because their message is conveyed as at the least condescending and at the worst utterly spiteful. Would the following statements, from different posts on this very forum, make you want to rally to someone's side and believe what he/she was saying?

Your post is incorrect and absurd, and devoid of all understanding?

I am through with you.

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PROV+13:10&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on

Pride brings quarrels. This is an undisputed fact, because when someone asserts something in arrogance or pride, it is simply human nature for the person who has been "cut down to size" to respond either in kind or in correction: and then an argument begins. To blame the person who responds may seem all well and good, but that is like blaming a gasoline can for a fire rather than blaming the person who threw the match into it.

. . .more. . .

 

[Susan]

to be continued. . .

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PROV+16:18&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Why? Because when pride comes into the equation, people ignore where or what others are. They ascribe all the best motivations to people who even give lip service to them, while ascribing the worst to people who even honestly question. They believe themselves alone to be capable of knowing all truth/accomplishing a calling or a task/being holy/leading/whatever. They surround themselves with "amen corners" and "yes-men," while anathematizing even former friends. Finally, they rationalize and distort their past, their behavior, or whatever needs to be whitewashed to make *ME* look even better. All of these things, especially in combination, are very effective at causing someone to separate from reality, to disdain others, and finally to become severely misled or commit other open and public sins.

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PROV+21:24&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on

The proud and arrogant man is a "mocker." It does not matter what his belief: conservative, liberal, traditional, unorthodox: he scorns and mocks the opposing viewpoints of anyone else as juvenile, demonic, foolish, conspiratorial, or whatever other insulting idea that can be insinuated. Mocking is not always saying "hahaha, look at how stupid you are," it is too often veiled in terms like "Well, when you get deeper into God you will understand" "I'm older/holier/wiser than you are so I know best," or the "best" one of all: "God told me this, and if you disagree with me you disagree with Him."

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PROV+29:23&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on

A man's (or woman's) pride brings him (or her) low. The sadness of pride is that it is deceptive: while you think you're really something, you're NOT. Pride is much like standing on a pedestal planted in quicksand. It is sinking faster than anything else around due to its weight, yet standing on it makes you feel higher than the quicksand until the very end. Pride will lead to spiritual shipwreck, because the prideful person will either justify all manner of license for himself and fall into open sin, or will stay "moral," yet become so repellent that no one wants to hear his message and turn into yet another example of "those angry fundamentalists."

 

 

 

[Sharky]

Pride can also be a subtle thing. If you don't like correction, you have a problem with pride. (proverbs 15:32)

great pointers there!

 

[waterwizard]

Matthew 5:3 (NKJV) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

How right you are, Susan.

 

[Gerry]

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

 

[waterwizard]

Luke 18:10 (NKJV)  Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess."  13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!"  14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

 

[reeann]

Matthew 19
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

 

[FaithtoFaith]

Wow, I truly loved the statement about correction. This I will meditate and seek the Lord about. Pride is a nasty little bacteria that can get started and harvest if not caught and destroyed.

 

[GraftMeIn]

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

 

[luigi028]

So true,

A pastor friend of mine used to say, "God likes to pop ballons", you know? like when a helium baloon is going up, up, up, well, God likes to pop them when they are getting way too high in their arrogance and pride.

I have personally seen many arrogant people literally having to eat their words not once but PLENTY of times, and God has a way to correct their children, because his love is truthful.

(Hebrews 12: 7-9) Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!

028

 

[seebs]

Today at 08:08 AM luigi028 said this in Post #10 (http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?postid=667223#post667223)
I have personally seen many arrogant people literally having to eat their words not once but PLENTY of times, and God has a way to correct their children, because his love is truthful.

Eating your words hurts now. Refusing to hurts more, later.