The Penalty of Pride

We have heard of the pride of Moab — 

he is very proud—

of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, 

and the haughtiness of his heart. 

I know his insolence, declares the Lord; 

his boasts are false, 

his deeds are false.

Jeremiah 48:29 & 30

In the rest of the chapter, we see the LORD dishing out destruction for Moab. He is angry with them - they sinned and would be thoroughly punished for it. 

On all the housetops of Moab and in the squares there is nothing but lamentation, for I have broken Moab like a vessel for which no one cares, declares the LORD. How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all that are around him.  (Jeremiah 48:39 & 39)

But what was their sin? 

PRIDE. 

Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people, because he magnified himself against the LORD.  (Jeremiah 48:42)

The truth is that God knows what we are. He MADE the first man from the dust of the ground - a reminder of how worthless we are before Him. If that's not humbling, I don't know what is. 

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet...    (Psalm 8:4-6)

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.   (Psalm 103:15 & 16)

The fact that He chose to discipline Moab (and us) instead of simply wiping them [us] off the face of the earth is amazing. But He was disciplining Moab, because He chastens those He loves (Hebrews 12:6).

Pride is embedded deeply in each one of us. Essentially, it is human making themselves and thinking themselves higher than everyone else - including God, even on the tiniest scale. It makes humans believe they have rights and that they earned something - when, in pride, all we earn is death (Romans 6:23). It is breaking the first of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3). It is disobeying both of the great commandments: loving God with everything you are and loving others as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40).

Pride is deadly: the deadliest of sins. Why?

Sin is subtle, like a cancer. Its presence often isn't readily known until it has done severe damage and devoured the heart tender to Christ. Many strong [professing] Christians have lived for many years, deep in the Word of God, ministering in His light, yet their hearts are sick with sin. 

Pride is the root of every sin. Sin is doing something against God, in one way or another, to benefit us. The idea that we would even think of doing something against God shows our sinful nature. The following fact that we'd do it for our earthly, temporary, and pitifully weak self shows the root of pride.

We can look around us and see its effect in the world around us: Pride was the first sin committed by Lucifer, which earned him a ticket out of heaven along with all who followed him. And sin escalated from there. Pride tears lives, hearts, and people apart.

Take a moment to examine yourself: think of the last sin you committed (that you know of), however 'little' it might be. (1) Sneaking an extra five minutes on the time sheet at work? (2) Exaggerating? (3) Neglecting morning devotions for an extra ten minutes of sleep? 
(1) So you could have more money, as tiny as the amount would be, therefore making yourself greater in the eyes of your peers?
(2) Exaggerating to make yourself look better or seem more appealing/funny? So people will ultimately think better of you? 
(3) Glorifying self over the beautiful Word of God?

Humans are incomprehensibly prideful. None of us know the extent. If we are so sinful, how can God be pleased with us? Forgive us?

#1: By His redeeming blood.
The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  (1 John 1:7) 

Christ died the sacrificial death: taking the blame of our sins before the Father. He knew our prideful condition. He knew - and took - the anger and punishment that will face unrepentant hearts. (Please read our 4-part Gospel series to learn more: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4) This is a glorious promise of hope!

#2: Pursue Humility.
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)

Grace is given to those with humble hearts. It is the one thing we, as prideful humans, can do to earn grace. How do we pursue humility? Through God's grace and the help of the Holy Spirit. See? It's like a triangle: humans are in need of humility, which is only achieved by God's grace, which is given to the humble. I recently read an excellent book on the subject: Humility, True Greatness, by C.J. Mahaney. God used this book in my life to show me points of my pride and equip me with tactful approaches of how to pursue humility, please God by destroying my pride, and receive His grace. None of it is possible while stubbornly loving our pride and without desiring to be rid of it. 

That is the difference in the hearts of sinners without grace and sinners who have received it. One loves the sin and doesn't want it removed from them. The other, while the flesh desires pride and is naturally prideful, the heart cleansed by God will seek to destroy it. 

Which one describes you? 

Defeating pride is a lifelong process. The strongest Christians will never feel they've succeeded. Why even try? 

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  (Deuteronomy 6:5)

If all of my heart, my soul, and my strength are devoted to loving my God, that leaves nothing left over for the selfish love of me.

I hope this is encouraging. I hope this is challenging. I know it is a battle for humility, but the grace given by God is worth it all. 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  (Ephesians 6:10)

<3 Berea 

**You can find Humility, True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney on Amazon.ca. This is one book I will read many times and recommend over again!