Isaiah 13:11 “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.”
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Psalm 94:4 “They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.”
James 4:6 “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”’
Wow! Those at some harsh words. It’s clear though that God cannot stand proud arrogant men who lord themselves over others and insist they have the answers and everyone around them is wrong. (A lesson I continue to learn.) The hardest part, when we see these actions in others but have no way of telling them because of this little tid-bit, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5
The sadest part is that that is also the same message those that act this way need to hear most. Yet, because I have sinned in this I can’t speak into their lives, at least not about this. Moral of the story, be careful how you live so that God can use you to help others live according to his will not their own.
The reality is that people who tout their own strength or knowledge, who proclaim themselves capable at most anything, even those who give off a false humility - they will answer for it. Proverbs 16:5 “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.”
The worst part is that many of those that need to repent of this will read this and ignore it not realizing that they are guilty and in need of repentance. But there is a day that is coming when the Bible says, “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.” Isaiah 29:18
That is not merely speaking of literal ears and literal eyes. It is also speaking of the supernatural. When Christ returns not only will the deaf hear and the blind see but the spiritually deaf, (those who are arrogant and boastful, who are so loud and proud they fail to hear the warnings of those around them) and the spiritually blind, (those who can’t see what is right in front of them because they are looking through a jaded or slanted lens that turns all faults to everyone else and projects blame elsewhere) these too will be heeled and the truth will hit them like a ton of bricks when the judgment of the Lord comes upon them.
Lord in Heaven, forgive my arrogance and stubborn pride. Help me to listen more than I speak. Soften my core that I may be approachable by those around me. Bend my heart to your will. Fill me with patience and gentleness and gift me a spirit of grace and mercy full of wisdom and understanding, at least enough to know that I don’t know it all and can’t do it all and that I am not always right and that even if I am, I might be gracious in the truth not boastful.