Humility Precedes All Spiritual Growth
"If my people...will humble themselves ... pray … seek … turn … then …." 2 Chron.7:14.
The word, "pride" is commonly used in at least two ways. All but one of them are used erroneous to biblical usage. Every use in the Bible, of pride or proud, has a negative connotation of conceit or inordinate self esteem … narcissism. But we often use the word in telling a child or other persons that we are proud of them or proud of America etc. Webster references that use differently than when used of one's self. When we say someone is a "proud American", we mean they are patriotic and love their country. When we say to a child that we are proud of them we mean we are impressed or pleased with them. I am not suggesting that we should not use the word in that way, but it is not used that way in the Bible. I only
mention it to help Christians understand the word's true Scriptural meaning, and to realize that meaning has changed, over time, to mean self respect or patriotism or admiration or satisfaction of a job well done. So I choose to distinguish between the two different meanings by giving the scriptural, negative meaning of pride, a clarifying word, "vain", to predicate the biblical meaning as "Vain Pride".
Biblical pride, Vain Pride, Is the diametric, polar opposite, of humility. And humility is an absolute essential to spirituality.
"If my people...will humble themselves ... pray … seek … turn … then …." 2 Chron.7:14.
The word, "pride" is commonly used in at least two ways. All but one of them are used erroneous to biblical usage. Every use in the Bible, of pride or proud, has a negative connotation of conceit or inordinate self esteem … narcissism. But we often use the word in telling a child or other persons that we are proud of them or proud of America etc. Webster references that use differently than when used of one's self. When we say someone is a "proud American", we mean they are patriotic and love their country. When we say to a child that we are proud of them we mean we are impressed or pleased with them. I am not suggesting that we should not use the word in that way, but it is not used that way in the Bible. I only
mention it to help Christians understand the word's true Scriptural meaning, and to realize that meaning has changed, over time, to mean self respect or patriotism or admiration or satisfaction of a job well done. So I choose to distinguish between the two different meanings by giving the scriptural, negative meaning of pride, a clarifying word, "vain", to predicate the biblical meaning as "Vain Pride".
Biblical pride, Vain Pride, Is the diametric, polar opposite, of humility. And humility is an absolute essential to spirituality.
Where there is no humility, there is no spirituality... period.
"And many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations .... In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the Lord.... But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts … Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much." 2 Chron.32:23-29.
It is my observation that when a person allows themselves to become overmuch exalted, as an actor, athlete, rich man, politician, or preacher, God will jerk that spurious rug fright out from under them.
It is my observation that when a person allows themselves to become overmuch exalted, as an actor, athlete, rich man, politician, or preacher, God will jerk that spurious rug fright out from under them.
So here is a king, made proud, by his fame, wealth and power, given him by other men. But then God neutralized all that by removing his health which brought him down to where his wealth and power and fame meant nothing anymore. Sickness, pain and fear will, in time, break a person's vain pride, or kill them. Only when king Hezekiah gave up his pride, and himself to God, in humility and repentance, did God restore his health and make him more rich, more powerful and still famous to this day because of his healing humility and prosperity.
In summery, of this kings rise in wealth and fame, his physical fall, battle with pride, humble repentance, spiritual, and then physical, healing, and then rise in power and redoubled wealth ....
In summery, of this kings rise in wealth and fame, his physical fall, battle with pride, humble repentance, spiritual, and then physical, healing, and then rise in power and redoubled wealth ....
1. King Hezekiah was rife with vain pride in his power, position, wealth and fame.
2. God's Holy Spirit convicted him of his self-willed, presumptuous superiority and pride.
3. His pride infected all the Capital City, Jerusalem, and his political supporters.
4. He finally yielded his self-will to God's will & humbled himself before the Lord.
5.His repentant humility forestalled the wrath of God upon his entire kingdom.
6. As with Job, God gave Hezekiah restored health and twice as much wealth and power as he had lost. A rich man approved and blessed of God. Is that possible? Of course. It happened then and it happens today. It is not money but the "love of money" which breeds pride and is "the root of all evil". 1 Tim.6:10
That is why God hates vain pride.
Vain Pride is like sulfuric acid in a tin bucket; it corrupts, depraves and perverts the container and burns up everything it touches. It destroys what God loves and created in His own image and likeness.... Us.
Vain Pride is like sulfuric acid in a tin bucket; it corrupts, depraves and perverts the container and burns up everything it touches. It destroys what God loves and created in His own image and likeness.... Us.
Vain Pride persecutes the weak .... Psalms 10:2.
Vain Pride will not, cannot, sincerely seek after God.... Psalms 10:4
Vain Pride is a chain of slavery to the soul ... Psm.73:6
God hates the arrogance of Vain Pride.... Prov.8:13
"Pride goeth before destruction".... Prov.16:18
"A man's Vain Pride will bring him low...down"... Prov.29:23
Vain Pride is a self bestowed crown of mock glory .... Isa.28:1
Vain Pride was the iniquity of Sodom ... Ezek.16:49
Vain Pride was the sin of Nebuchadnezzar... Dan.5:20
Vain Pride was the downfall of the Philistines … Zec.9:6
Jesus listed pride with thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, and the pride of life. Mark 7:22
There are three categories of sin ... lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 1 John 2:16. One is as bad as the other... All destroy!
There is just one remedy for vain pride …. as I alluded to at the top of the page....
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chron.7:14
There is just one remedy for vain pride …. as I alluded to at the top of the page....
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chron.7:14
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