Pride of Life

I'm sure most of you have heard the old saying that pride comes before the fall. If you haven't, well you have now! It is one of the seven things that God despises (Proverbs 6:16-19). Have you ever asked yourself what is pride? Well here's some definitions from Dictionary.com:

1) A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect.

2) Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association: parental pride.

I don't think there is any sin in the top two definitions. But take a look at the last two.

3) Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness.

4) An excessively high opinion of oneself; conceit.

Interesting huh? Well not also does the dictionary tell us about pride but the book of Provebs tells something else:

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 13:10
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

The Bible even talks about the consequences of Pride.

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

We see this in action in the life of Lucifer or the Morning Star.

How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!

13 You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.

14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."

15 But you are brought down to the grave,
to the depths of the pit.

(Isaiah 14:1-15)

Why do you suppose God hates Pride? I've got some ideas but mind you I am thinking out loud so it may not sound to coherent.

Pride comes from a desire to be worshipped, or praised. Man was never meant to become and object of worship or praise. Why? Because man is fallible and imperfect.

Man isn’t all-powerful, all present and all knowing and therefore can’t meet all of our greatest needs. When we worship men, we will ultimately become disappointed when we find out that they can’t meet our deepest longings and lift our loneliness. Men will always fail us.

“It is better to trust in the LORD, Than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8)

Jeremiah 17:5
”This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

God’s ultimate desire is to have us love Him (Mark 12:20). If we worship him, we become like him and He is love. (1 John 4:8) He can meet our needs and promises to meet all our needs to the glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). He is all powerful and all present and all knowing. God never fail us.