Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
This verse is similar to many in the Book of Proverbs, which leads to a path of righteousness. Moreover, many of these verses also include a stern warning of the iniquities of Satan and his evil followers. For example, in this 16th chapter of Proverbs, in verse 5, we see that the Lord detests a prideful heart, and it is something that will not go unpunished. But, on the other hand, from verse 19 in this same chapter, we see that it is better to be “lowly of heart” than to “share plunder with the proud.”
This verse is often quoted by some who could not tell you where it might
be found in the Bible, used repeatedly out of context, and often misquoted.
This verse precisely described the condition of lucifer’s when he attempted to
usurp God’s authority and to ascend higher than God. It most definitely was his
proud heart and “haughty spirit” that caused his “fall” from heaven and his
eternal “destruction.” Pride has been the downfall of many as recorded in the
pages of the Holy Word of God.
Pride was the underlying foundation in the fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden and the primary cause that so many of the Jewish leaders did not recognize Christ Jesus as the true promised Messiah. In the New Testament, we will find that pride and a self-sufficient attitude caused the Christians in Galatia to drift back to “trying to finish by means of the flesh” (Galatians 3:1-5). In the case of King Nebuchadnezzar, his haughty spirit caused him to lose his kingdom and live in the wilderness like an animal for some time (Daniel 4:30-33).
The sin of pride is an overall indifference for the condition of anyone other than oneself. Pride is living our lives for whatever we can gain for our well-being. Anytime we allow pride to become a way of life and guide our daily steps, we can be sure that there are some serious repercussions down the road. For example, the late former heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Mohammed Ali, was on an airplane once and was instructed by the flight attendant to fasten his seatbelt. To which he replied, “Superman don’t need a seatbelt,” to which the flight attendant said, “Superman don’t need an airplane, now fasten your seat belt.”
Pride is us taking credit for things in our lives that came from God; it wants to take the glory on ourselves that rightfully belongs to our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Pride is a form of self-worship, falsely believing that there is something we can do to assure not only a safe passage in this life but a secure landing in eternity in heaven with God (1 Corinthians 4:7). All the honor and glory for all that we are, all that we have, all that we will ever be or ever will have is because of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. This sacrifice of Christ Jesus was the greatest act of love ever bestowed on humankind and the most excellent example of humility the world will ever witness. This one selfless act is the reason that all the honor and all the glory go to God.
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