Why does God oppose the proud but give grace to the humble?

[TruthSeek3r]

1 Peter 5:5-7 (ESV):

5 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.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.​

James 4:6-10 (ESV):

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.​

Questions:

• First of all, what do Peter and James mean by being proud and humble? What are the Biblical definitions of pride and humility?
  
  
• Why does God oppose the proud but give grace to the humble? What is the logic behind this principle/law?
  
  
• Is there something inherently wrong about being proud? Why is pride a bad thing?
  
  
• Is there something inherently good about being humble? Why is humility a good thing?

 

[Sabertooth]

Among other reasons,

• the proud believe (incorrectly) that they can attain righteousness by their own efforts;
• the humble know that they cannot.

 

[Sheila Davis]

1 Peter 5:5-7 (ESV):

5 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.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.​

James 4:6-10 (ESV):

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.​

Questions:

• First of all, what do Peter and James mean by being proud and humble? What are the Biblical definitions of pride and humility?
  
  
• Why does God oppose the proud but give grace to the humble? What is the logic behind this principle/law?
  
  
• Is there something inherently wrong about being proud? Why is pride a bad thing?
  
  
• Is there something inherently good about being humble? Why is humility a good thing?

Definition of HUMBLE
Definition of PRIDE
I would choose on humble person every time.

 

[TruthSeek3r]

Definition of HUMBLE

Is that the Biblical definition though?

Definition of PRIDE

Is that the Biblical definition though?

I would choose on humble person every time.

Why?

 

[Sheila Davis]

Is that the Biblical definition though?



Is that the Biblical definition though?



Why?

Is that the Biblical definition though?



Is that the Biblical definition though?



Why?

Biblical definitions
PRIDE - Definition from the KJV Dictionary

HUMBLE - Definition from the KJV Dictionary

Why would a person ask why one would choose humbleness over proudness? An arrogant, self-absorbed, boastful, conceited person is just not to my liking - almost like being around a dictator.



Pride synonyms - 787 Words and Phrases for Pride
Vanity synonyms | Best 63 synonyms for vanity

 

[tturt]

Maybe this is just a piece of the puzzle
'
"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Pro 6

 

[tturt]

This one?

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." I John 2:16

 

[SamInNi]

Pride is contrary to God’s nature and is all too common in human nature. The true believer’s old nature has a tendency to exalt self against the purposes of God. God is love and the loving nature of God in us won’t be arrogant (puffed up, prideful) (1st Corinthians 13:4).

God opposes the proud because pride inflates the ego in the “fleshly mind” (Colossians 2:18), and when the mind is set on the flesh it “is hostile toward God” (Romans 8:7).

God favours the humble because humility disarms pride and encourages growth in Christ. Humility prevents boasting — the humble and humbled person cannot boast before God. God bypasses the proud, the selfish and the self-sufficient. Instead He chooses so-called foolishness, and the weak, the insignificant, the despised, so that no one “may boast before God” (see 1st Corinthians 1).

Humility among true believers encourages unity, along with compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience, forgiveness and love (Colossians 3:12-14). When we walk worthy of our calling in Christ we will be humble (Ephesians 4:1, 2). Humility causes us to put others before ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

Jesus taught: “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

 

[aiki]

Questions:

• First of all, what do Peter and James mean by being proud and humble? What are the Biblical definitions of pride and humility?

Pride: Self-exaltation. (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Humility: Taking the lower place; the opposite of self-exaltation. (John 3:30)

Why does God oppose the proud but give grace to the humble? What is the logic behind this principle/law?

Pride is an expression of selfishness which is at the heart of all sin. From selfishness arises all the terrible wickedness that corrupts and destroys humanity. Why would God not hate and oppose pride, then? It is a manifestation of all that is anathema to our holy Creator.

Is there something inherently wrong about being proud? Why is pride a bad thing?

1 Corinthians 4:6-7
6 ...that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

We are all contingent creatures. All we are and possess we obtain ultimately from God. Of what, then, can we boast? About what ought we to be prideful? Everything of which we might boast is, at bottom, the consequence of our Maker's will and power, not ours.

Is there something inherently good about being humble? Why is humility a good thing?

Humility reflects an understanding of reality, of the truth concerning God. It acknowledges the right order of things and our utter dependency upon our Creator. It places us in the proper relational dynamic with God, empty of ourselves and ready to be filled with Him. (Matthew 16:24-25; 1 Corinthians 10:31)

 

[Tolworth John]

Why does God oppose the proud but give grace to the humble? What is the logic behind this principle/law?

Because the proud man will not humble hi
myself to acknowledge he is a sinner.

A humble person does acknowledge they are a sinner and needs God's salvation.

God opposes the proud because they are working against God.