When pride separates us from God

A proud man thinks and behaves as if he does not need God. Perhaps he has money or cleverness because of which he thinks he can handle any situation. He does not see why he needs God in his life. This is what Jesus warns 'rich' people about finding it difficult to enter the kingdom of God (Lk.18:24,25). They do not see the need for God because they assume they can depend on their own resources, and the result is that they miss out on God and eternity.

Another aspect of proud people is that they find it difficult to submit to God. Even when they read the Bible, they decide what they would like to do, instead of simply doing what God says. Even when they will not say they know better than God, they act as if they do. This is the special problem of clever people that they have more confidence in their ability to discern and decide than in God.

Clever scientists imagine they know so much and try to find explanations about nature without bringing in God who created everything. They religiously put aside every concept of God even when God is the only possible explanation. Some of them even go to the extent of faking evidence for their theories but they will not recognise God because of their pride. They know that if they acknowledge God, they will become accountable to Him. But they want to be their own masters.

Think of what you do when you come across a place in the Bible that tells you to do something. If obeying that might put you into difficulty with people or society, would you rather submit to God or try to find some way around with clever explanations? There are even so-called Bible scholars who bring in imaginary social or cultural explanations to eliminate some of God's instructions.

Proud people bully and exploit weakness of others because they think they can, forgetting that there is One to whom they will have to give account.

It is very difficult for proud people to submit to other people in authority over them (1Pe.2:13). They press for 'equal rights' and recognise no authority except their own. They call out for 'justice' according to their own understanding, without understanding the value of submitting to authority.

The world is so corrupted that proud people are able to get away with their proud behaviours. But we must not forget that there is a God who watches over everything (Pr.15:3). He is fully aware of our thoughts and even intentions, and nobody can get away with anything (He.4:12,13). He is particularly opposed to the proud, and He values the humble in His kingdom (1Pe.5:5).

The world disdains humble people and calls humility a weakness. As a result, they face humiliation and exploitation in this word. But they are going to be 'wealthy' people in eternity (Mt.5:3,5). Those who have their eyes set on the eternity to come will choose those values to cherish and nourish. They are content to suffer loss in this world in order to ensure that they do not lose out in eternity (Co.3:2;Ro.8:18).