2 Chronicles 32:24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.
Deuteronomy 32:6 Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?
Luke 17:17-18 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
1 Peter 5:5-6 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.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
Daniel 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.
Ezekiel 28:5 by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth
Psalms 116:12-13 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
Sections from Compelling Truth on pride; In 1 John it says; “For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.” Pride is a sinful, arrogant, haughty, insolent, self-reliant attitude or spirit that causes a person to have an inflated or puffed up view of themselves. In this pride, the proud do not have a correct or sober estimation of themselves, their abilities or their positions. Proverbs says; “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Conversion (born again) and baptism are not a guarantee against the temptation to pride. Even the apostle Paul was given a mysterious thorn in his side to keep him from becoming proud. We must be reliant and dependent on God for our strength if we are to keep from falling into this ever enticing trap. As we grow in knowledge, understanding, and yielding to God’s leading resulting in good deeds, we can be tempted to glory in ourselves. Likewise, when God blesses us with health, prosperity, and wisdom there is tempting to claim this as if our own working and effort accomplished it. In times of blessings, we need awareness that only the Holy Spirit can give to keep us from yielding to the temptation of pride. We must be constantly alert and on guard against the temptation to pride, self-reliance, and self-righteousness. It is not by our own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us that we are able to imitate Christ’s humility and thereby love and serve God, our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even our enemies. Pride is focused inward on loving and serving oneself, Spirit-filled love is directed outward toward loving and serving God and others.
