Proverbs Pt. 23 Seven Things God Hates: Pride is first.

The lesson today is a really important one for all of us. Why? Because God is going to tell us seven things that He hates! If God hates these things then it is the believer's responsibility to learn about them so that we avoid offending God. 

We will only cover one of the seven things that God hates today because we need to understand how invasive and pervasive pride is in the culture today. 

In our last post we learned about the vile character of a "naughty" man who is dominated by his "froward" heart. The wisdom from God teaches us about the "naughty" man so that we can be instructed on how not to live! Thus, the list of seven things that God hates is connected to the depraved character of the "naughty" person.

Seven things God hates!

Proverbs 6:16-19  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. 

We all understand the word "hate" but the word "abomination" means something that is spiritually polluted and impure. It is something that is unclean, even disgusting in the sight of God. It is something that is morally defiled and hated with extreme hate. When God says "I hate these things" we must pay attention and hear from God because no believer wants to do any of the things that God says He hates. 

A proud look. A proud look is not just an external air of arrogant superiority like the Pharisees exhibited. Rather, it is an accurate reflection of pride in the heart of that man or woman. 

Another Bible word used to describe "pride" is the word "glory" or "glorying" and it means essentially the same thing as pride. Seeking self glory instead of God's glory. 

Example of the proud look.

Luke 18:9-14  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

Notice the arrogant air of superiority shown by the Pharisee who went into the temple to pray. "I thank thee that I am not as other men are. I don't extort money, I live right, I am not an adulterer, and I am not bad like this publican. I fast and tithe." Can you see the ugly sin of pride spewing out in this man's prayer? He looked down on the publican man but Jesus said the publican who cried out for mercy was justified. The Pharisee was condemned by his own self righteousness. 

Why is pride so evil? Pride exalts self instead of exalting God. Pride seeks satisfaction in the world instead of finding satisfaction with God. Pride breeds arrogance and contempt for others instead of loving others as God commands. Pride boasts about intellect, accomplishments and status instead of giving glory to God. 

Pride is self conceited instead of God centered. Pride feeds self esteem instead of valuing Christ over all others. Pride is boastful instead of humble. Pride is haughty instead of compassionate. Pride is dismissive instead of welcoming. 

Pride was connected to the fall of Satan and his expulsion from heaven (See Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-18). 

Pride is self exalting and world oriented.

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16)  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. 17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

John wrote to tell us of the dangers of loving the world instead of keeping Jesus Christ as our first love. Pride will pass away because it focuses upon temporal things instead of the eternal things of God. Pride blossoms as we satisfy the lusts of our flesh. 

God fights against our pride.

James 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 

Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) but those who are proud will not bow down to Christ. Therefore, God fights against them and resists them. 

Pride precedes an inglorious fall.

Proverbs 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

King Solomon stressed this point about what happens to those who are filled with pride. Destruction, loss and suffering will come to them at last. The haughty spirit of the proud will fall into disgrace and ignominy. Pride is evident first before the final calamity comes upon those driven by their pride. 

1 Corinthians 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 

The church at Corinth struggled with many spiritual issues that caused splits, divisions and a lack of unity. Pride was at the root of many of these problems that Paul addressed. Many people who started cliques within the church were filled with pride and were certain that they were right and all others were wrong.

Pride leads to condemnation.

1 Timothy 3:6-7  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7) Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

Paul listed the qualification for spiritual leaders in the church. A deacon or bishop could not be a novice because the lack of experience could lead to pride and a fall into the same condemnation Lucifer received when his pride motivated him to rebel against God. 

Pride causes self deception. 

Galatians 6:3  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 

Pride makes a man think more highly of himself that he has any right to. Pride makes him think  he is really special and so much better than all the others around him. Yet, Paul reminds us that this man is really nothing. He is truly a nobody who has done nothing. He has deceived himself into thinking that he is a really great person but his thoughts are just a deluded view of self.

How do I battle against pride in my own life?

Jeremiah 9:23-24  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24) But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. 

The prophet Jeremiah helps us see what our human tendencies are. We will gravitate toward glorying in how smart we are, how strong we are or how wealthy we may be. We tend to boast and brag about things instead of recognizing that all we have belongs to God and all that we ever accomplish in life is because of how God formed us. Any glory we have for wisdom, strength, or good things in our life rightfully belongs to God alone.

What should we glory in? What should we be proud of? Glory if you are born again and truly know the Lord. Glory if you understand that Jehovah is full of lovingkindness, righteousness and judgment and that He made a way to save us from our sins! Glory in the love of God that brought salvation to mankind and offers eternal life to all who will believe. 

See ourselves as we truly are.

Romans 3:10-19  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13) Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15) Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16) Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17) And the way of peace have they not known: 18) There is no fear of God before their eyes.  19) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 

Romans 3 paints an ugly picture of sinners. This is who we were before we came to Christ for salvation. All unsaved people are currently enslaved to sin which is why we must share the gospel with them.

We were unrighteous and lacked understanding of God. We did not seek after Him because we were walking in the way of the world. All people are born sinners and are unprofitable. No one naturally does good. 

Paul goes on to say that sinners have poisonous tongues that curse, feet that run to do violent acts, and lives full of destruction and misery. No one had any fear of God. 

The whole world is condemned as guilty before God. This is who we were before being born again by the power of the gospel of Christ. 

If we remember what we were like before Jesus Christ rescued us from our sins then we will not have anything to be proud about. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Rejoice in the power of the gospel!

Romans  1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

The gospel of Christ has power to save sinners! God chose the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe and we must share His truth with other people. 

1 Corinthians 1:30-31  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 

Glory in the Lord and not self. Exalt Him and humble yourself. Elevate Christ and sit humbly at His feet. 

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Glory for the new birth, a fresh start in life a new beginning and a new eternal destination of sonship with the Father. 

Stay in the Word of God.

Psalm 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

Psalm 119:51  The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

Psalm 119:97  O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 

Psalm 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.  

Reading the scripture and meditating upon what God is saying to us is vitally important for our spiritual wellbeing. Memorizing scripture is a great way to hide it in our heart and when we do this it will help us avoid sin, including the sin of pride. Those who read and study the law of God will have their spirit kept in check by His truth. 

It will fight against pride whereas the proud look down on those who stay truth to God's Word. The Word of God exposes every false way like pride. It helps us see pride and other sins as God sees them so that we can hate sin when we are tempted.  

We must recognize that pride is everywhere around us and we must be on guard so that it does not encroach upon our lives. 

I pray that the Lord will use this lesson to prepare us for the battle against pride in our own lives. I pray that He will instill a fresh view of His glory and majesty so that we will give Him the glory for all things.

Bob