Proverbs 8:13a “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance.”
Why does God hate pride and arrogance and haughtiness (see Proverbs 6:16-17)? One reason may be the way pride makes a man feel superior to others, more worthy, and less aware of the truth so that he spurns and ultimately forgets his need for God. Another reason may be that the arrogant man treats others with contempt and is far more likely to exploit and steal and cause harm when he fails to appreciate the humanity in every individual. Pride and arrogance cause spiritual blindness. How pitiful for a human being to think himself great, powerful, wise, desirable, rich, elite, and above the mass of humanity. Yet so many people spend vast amounts of time, money, and broken relationships trying to raise themselves above others. For what gain? Here’s Revelation 3:17: “You say ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”
Father, in this latest season of great confusion and turmoil in the world, please tear down the pride and falsehood of self-sufficiency that mankind has erected to exclude the truth about you. And please keep me from trying to raise myself up and make myself important when it is Jesus Christ who deserves my energy and devotion.