Home Destroyers, Part III, No. 210
HOME DESTROYERS
Part 3
Proverbs 14:3, “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride.”
Today we talk about the third tool that can pull down our home.
3. PRIDE
Proverbs 15:25, “The Lord will destroy the house of the proud.”
God hates pride. It is always destructive. Yet how easily we succumb to this sin. Sometimes women feel ashamed if their house is poorer than their friends’ homes. They want to keep up with the Joneses. They want their children to wear designer clothes. They want them to go to the best schools and best colleges. They want them to have degrees after their names. How are they going to do this?
Maybe they will be lured into the workforce to gain these aspirations. But the root of it all is pride. Instead of bringing blessing, it weakens home life. Children can enjoy a richer life and receive more blessings by having a contented mother in the home than wearing designer clothes and living in a fancier home. Learning to be content is not easy but it is one of the godliest lessons we can teach our children. 1 Timothy 6:6 reminds us that “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Of course, the only way we can teach it is by example.
We definitely don’t need all the things we think we need. We can live on a tenth of the stuff we think we need! Nor do our children need all the things they think they want. I am always challenged by the words of Nehemiah, “You gave your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing.” (Nehemiah 9:20-21, Deuteronomy 8:3-4 and 29:5)
What did they have in the wilderness? God faithfully provided food and water and miraculously kept their clothes and shoes from wearing out. But they lived in temporary tents. They had none of the modern conveniences that fill our homes today. They had to TVs. No décor. No running water or instant electricity. And yet God said they lacked nothing.
Proverbs 17:19 says, “He that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.” Matthew Henry comments on this Scripture: “He that exalts his gate, builds a stately house, at least a fine frontispiece, that he may outshine his neighbors, seeks his own destruction.”
We know how Satan’s pride wrought havoc and destruction in God’s heavenly home. When we read about this in Isaiah 14:12-15 we notice that this pride not only caused Satan to be cast out of heaven but he became the one to “weaken the nations.” Pride does not build up a home. It weakens a home. It tears it down.
May God help us to remember that each time we put on a proud look, speak prideful words and hold on to our stubbornness, we tear down our home a little more. Eventually we will destroy relationships altogether.
Proverbs 16:18-19 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Through divorce, many wives and husbands divide the spoil of their homes as their home folds up. The marriage is destroyed and consequently the children’s lives are negatively affected--all because of pride! Too proud to say sorry. Too proud to ask for forgiveness. Too proud to take the humble attitude. Too proud to change.
Pride is a bitter pill.
Pride is all about self! Humility is all about serving. Are we building up our home or tearing it down?
Love from
NANCY CAMPBELL
P.S. There are more Scriptures for you to check out below!
PRAYER:
“Oh God, please show me the hideousness of pride in my life. Save me from tearing down my home because of my stubbornness and pride. Amen.”
AFFIRMATION:
I’ve decided to take the humble road,It’s the “blessing way” for my abode.
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WHAT IS GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PRIDEFUL PERSON?
God will cut off the tongue that speaks proud things.“The Lord shall cut off the tongue that speaks proud things: who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?” (Psalm 12:3)
God cannot tolerate the proud.“Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.” (Psalm 101:5) Also Isaiah 2:11.
God resists the proud.“God resisteth the proud.” (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5)
God keeps the proud at arm’s length.“Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” (Psalm 138:6)
God hates pride.“These things doth the Lord hate: a proud look…” (Proverbs 6:16-17)
God sees pride as an abomination.“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5)
God sees pride as sin.“A high look, and a proud heart is sin.” (Proverbs 21:4)
God brings down the proud.“The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down… For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low… And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low…” (Isaiah 2:11-17) Read also Isaiah 3:16-24; 5:15; 10:33 and Proverbs 16:18.
WHAT IS GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE HUMBLE?
God exalts the humble (in due time).“He that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14;1 Peter 5:6)
God gives grace to the humble.“He giveth grace unto the lowly.” (Proverbs 3:34) Also 1 Peter 5:5.
God lifts up the humble.“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10) Also Psalm 147:6;
God saves the humble.“He shall save the humble person.” (Job 22:29) Also Psalm 34:18; 76:9 and 149:4.
God gives joy to the humble.“The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord.” (Isaiah 28:19)
God hears the cry of the humble.“Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble.” (Psalm 10:17) Also Psalm 9:12.
God dwells with the humble.“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15)
God revives the humble.“To revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15 b)
God rewards the humble.Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4)
God turns away his wrath from the humble.“Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the prid4 of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.” (2 Chronicles 32: 26) Read also 1 Kings 21:29; 2 Chronicles 12:6-7, 12; 33:12-13)
God respects the humble.“Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly.” (Psalm 138:6)
God looks to the humble.“But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)
God guides the humble.“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” (Psalm 25:9)
God will cause the meek to inherit the earth.“The meek shall inherit the earth.” (Psalm 37:11) Also Matthew 5:5.