A poison to swallow...
Pride is the only poison of which I know that is healthy to swallow.
What does pride keep us from? Somewhere I read (probably in "Mere Christianity"), C.S. Lewis asserted that pride keeps us from seeing God because we are so bent on looking down on others that we never look up to God. And it was Sophocles who said pride is the only crime that cannot be forgiven. My grandma would say to me, "Your temper gets you into trouble, and your pride keeps you there." See? A man who admits some wrong, that man can be forgiven and change.
What does pride keep us from? Where is it holding us back in our relationship with someone?
What place does pride keep you from? Has it been a long time since you've visited a friend or relative? Has pride kept you from attending church? Does pride keep us from confession before God?
Every once in a while, I pull out this list of Scriptures and spend some time considering pride and humility. It helps me. Maybe you will find some comfort or challenge in these Scriptures as well.
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. (Psalm 138:6 ESV)
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (Proverbs 6:16-17 ESV) “haughty eyes” = proud look
The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. (Proverbs 8:13 ESV)
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5 ESV)
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 ESV) “haughty spirit” = “proud spirit”
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.” (1 Peter 5:5 ESV)
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4 ESV)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 ESV)
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:6-10 ESV)
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15 ESV)
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