How Pride Brings Down The Great

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This article seeks to explore why pride is disapproved by God by drawing examples from scripture. The Bible illustrates various instances showing how God interacts with those who display pride. This typically involves individuals taking great pleasure in their accomplishments with an excessive and exaggerated self-confidence.

Scripture contains multiple references to pride, such as the verse found in Psalm 16:18, which states, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” This is a divine law regarding pride, and all who display it experience a downfall or destruction.

As a principle, when one boasts about themselves, it’s regarded as pride. The only thing we are permitted to boast about is our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14). All achievements and gifts we receive in life are meant to bring glory to God, for all things come from Him and He alone deserves all praise.

1.Three Examples On How Pride Leads To A Downfall And Destruction

1.1 Satan’s Downfall

Satan said to himself, “I will ascend to heaven and set my throne on God’s stars. I will climb the highest heavens and be like the Most High” Isaiah 14:13-14. This display of pride led his fall from heaven and was thrown down to the earth. He was no longer in the glorious presence of God in heaven instead, he was brought down to the place of the dead and down to the lowest depths (Isaiah 14:15).

1.2 Joseph’s Downfall

When Joseph was 17 years old, he received a gift of dreams. He shared these dreams with his brothers, revealing that one day they would bow down to him. The bible records that his brothers hated the way he talked about his dreams (Genesis 37:8). Joseph’s way of recounting his dreams had elements of pride because never glorified nor credited God for his gift of dreams.

The sequence of events that ensued resulted in his downfall. His pride, both in reality and symbolically, played a key role in his downfall as he was thrown into a pit and eventually sold into slavery. His pride took him away from the love of his adoring father, to a harsh life enslaved in Egypt.

1.3 King Nebuchadnezzar’s Downfall

King Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall came when looked out across the city of Babylon from his royal palace and said “Look at this great city of Babylon. By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor” Daniel 4:30. In the very same hour, Nebuchadnezzar was driven from his royal palace and away from human civilization. He ate grass like a cow and grew hair like a bird’s feathers. He fell from living in the splendor of his royal palace to living like an animal away from society because of pride.

2. Why God Hates Pride

In all the aforementioned examples, God was not credited as the source of the gifts nor and as the God who rules over the kingdoms of the world. In all scenarios, the fall was preceded by an acute display of pride, thus proving the the proverb in Psalm 16:18 to be true.

All example show involve pride by taking credit for God’s gifts and a desire for admiration that should be directed towards God. However, all praises should be directed to God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

3. God Humbles The Proud And Lifts The Humble

The way to rise, is to be humble before God (James 4:10). This entails giving God the praise and the honor for the gifts and achievements bestowed upon us by Him so that He receives all the glory. Joseph and Nebuchadnezzar were lifted from their destruction when the began to give praise and credit God for their gifts.

pride

Joseph credited God and His power when interpreting the dreams of the Pharaoh’s cup bearer and baker (Genesis 40:8). He also credited God when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:16), and immediately was promoted from being a prisoner to becoming second in-charge over all Egypt.

Similarly King Nebuchadnezzar’s praised and worshipped God, and his sanity was restored including greater honor as a king than he had before (Daniel 4:37).

4. Final Remark

God humbles the proud but lifts the humble. Man were created to praise and honor and glorify the name God. Our lives are meant to bring honor to God and not to ourselves (Philippians 1:20), for God gives us power, gifts, wisdom and more, so that they can be expressed in this world for all men to witness. And God will receive all praise, honor and glory.

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