Proverbs 13:10
Proverbs 13:10
Pride and Contention
” Only by pride cometh contention…”
Proverbs 13:10
Pride is the spring from which every form of contention flows. It may be masked by earnest religious phrases but its poison results in much human sorrow within the Body of Christ.
Pride is the curse of humanity. It is the cause of unforgiveness, bitterness, envy, jealously, and malicious talk. It may be hidden in the smile of hypocrisy or the vehemence of outright aggression. It erects walls between close friends and breeds separation and schisms within the people of God. It is often cloaked in the “spiritual garments” of truth and sincerity, declaring with the subtly of Cain, “am I my brother’s keeper”? In the end, Pride brings spiritual blindness. It is its own judgment. Pride denies an individual their own progress in Christ and brings with it stagnation, deception, and sorrow. The love and forgiveness they deny to others become the harvest they reap. Forgiveness destroys the insidious workings of pride, darkness, and deceit. To forgive another one must give up their rights and hurts to the One who bore all sin in Himself.
The unforgiving remain unforgiven*
“Then laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil words, as newborn babes desire the pure soul-nourishing milk, that you may grow…”
1 Peter 2:1-2
May we set a watch upon our words, for out of the abundance of the heart does the mouth speak. Paul entreats us all:
“And, finally, be all of one mind, sympathetic, loving the brothers, tender-hearted, friendly, not giving back evil for evil, or reviling against reviling; but, on the contrary, give blessing; knowing that you were called to this in order that you might inherit blessing. For the one desiring to love life, and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil, even his lips not to speak guile. Let him turn aside from evil, and let him do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it; because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous…”
1 Peter 3:8-14
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* “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”
Mark 11:25-26
Brian Troxel
Pride is perhaps the most deadly beautiful (from a human eye) thing to see in someone. mankind is proud to be proud.
So true! Hardest to see in ourselves because we were born with it.
BT
So true! Hardest to see in ourselves because we were born with it.
BT
Pride is perhaps the most deadly beautiful (from a human eye) thing to see in someone. mankind is proud to be proud.
Pride is such a heinous affront to God. I appreciate you mentioning Cain being his brother’s keeper. More often than I care to admit am I reminded of the Lord’s words to Cain before killed Abel, “…sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it” (Gen 4:7 ESV). Pride does want to rule me. It wants me to demand my rights; indulge in pleasure etc. Thank you for this post, Brian!
The fight of faith is an epic one and its greatest battleground is in our hearts and minds. The place of our affections and our will… The grace of God is our “strong tower”! Thank you for the comment!
BT
The fight of faith is an epic one and its greatest battleground is in our hearts and minds. The place of our affections and our will… The grace of God is our “strong tower”! Thank you for the comment!
BT
Pride is such a heinous affront to God. I appreciate you mentioning Cain being his brother’s keeper. More often than I care to admit am I reminded of the Lord’s words to Cain before killed Abel, “…sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it” (Gen 4:7 ESV). Pride does want to rule me. It wants me to demand my rights; indulge in pleasure etc. Thank you for this post, Brian!