Until You Empty Yourself….

The Bible constantly, and consistently throughout both the OT and the NT, talks about pride and haughtiness. God opposes the proud. He humbles those who have a haughty spirit. Here in Proverbs chapter 16, we find a verse that summarizes the consequences of pride. Whenever someone is prideful, it’s just a matter of time before some kind of destruction will follow. Pride destroys. It destroys good attitudes, relationships, and attitudes of those around them. Self-centeredness is the root of all evil. Selfishness is the opposite of love. How can someone be promoting the love of God, by loving their neighbor, when their pride is opposing the very thing we are supposed to be giving? Arrogance, pride, and haughtiness will rob a man of his joy. They will steal his peace. Why? Because love and pride cannot co-exist together at the same time. One will overtake the other, and in the process you cannot promote one while the other is present. Like oil and water, pride and love cannot mix. Until we understand this relationship, our relationship with God cannot grow. Save yourself some pain and frustration, ask God to help you with this. Until you empty yourself of pride, there’s no room for God to fill you up with the love that changes people.

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-19