"Every one that is proud in heart is an
abomination to the Lord."—Prov. 16:5.
PRIDE MUST take its stand with the other reprehensible qualities of the fallen human mind, character. The Scriptures recognize two conditions of heart, the right and the wrong. The one that God approves is called Love; the other, the one that He disapproves, is Selfishness. All selfishness is opposed to God's Law. Anything selfish is contrary to the Divine purpose. The quality of pride is specially abominable to the Lord, because there is not a creature in the Universe that has anything to be proud of. Everything that anyone has is a gift; it is not of his own manufacture or creation. God gives the blessing. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." (James 1:17.) It is of His fulness that we have received. Everyone, therefore, who is proud, is certainly very reprehensible in God's sight, for he has been only a recipient of favor, blessing. All God's creatures are dependent upon Him.
Worldly pride challenges faith in God and obedience to Him. Only those of the Lord's people who are of good courage and full of confidence in the Lord can overcome this giant of pride. It is necessary that the victory should be made complete. Pride, in its every form, should be so thoroughly humiliated, killed, that it can never rise again to destroy us. This battle each one has to fight; and the only proper weapon with which to overcome is the "Sword of the Spirit," showing us what is pleasing and acceptable in God's sight. "He that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."—Luke 18:14.