Thorny Paths and Bitter Fruit

Behold, I am againt you, O proud one, declares the Lord god of hosts,
for your day has come, the time when I will punish you.
The proud one shall stumble and fall,... (Jeremiah 50:31)

God eventually and inevitably works against those who are proud. Our pride does not always bring immediate consequences. But, the day will come when we discover the fruit of our pride. How terrible it is when we find ourselves struggling against God. It is much better to have our prideful attitudes revealed as early as possible and to repent of them as soon as they are brought to light. Sadly, the proud man is tempted to exalt himself above God and to refuse to repent.

Some external symptoms of pride can be rolling eyeballs, hateful looks, bitter words, gossip, complaining, deception and laziness. The sluggard is filled with pride because he is wiser in his own eyes than seven who can answer sensibly. When we find that we have not done what we should have, the temptation is to make excuses instead of humbling ourselves.

It is extremely painful for any of us to have our nose thrust into our pride and to see it in all its reality. But, if I don't recognize my pride then I may be the only one who doesn't. My wife and children have helped me to perceive some of my pride. When this happens the temptation is to deny reality, to make excuses and to build the walls of pride yet higher. And yet, the fruit of pride is dreadful. May God preserve each of us from the thorny paths, self deceptions and bitter fruit of pride.

Project:
Let's fully trust God and pray that He will do whatever is necessary to move us from pride to humility.

Remember:
The Lord is just in all His ways and kind in all His doings. (Ps 145:17)