THE SNARE OF PRIDE
Adapted from a sermonpreached in the PCC evening service on 20 August 2000

“Pride goeth before destruction, and anhaughty spirit before a fall.”
(Proverbs 16:18)

Pride is a universal syndrome. It was pride which brought about the fall ofSatan in the first place, because he said in his heart, “I will ascend intoheaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…” (Isa 14:13–14; cf. Ezk28:14–15, 17).

It was pride that brought the fall of man because Adam and Eve, too, wanted to belike God. They gave in to Satan’s temptation, and brought about the ruin ofmankind. Sin, death, pain, sorrow, all came in to all man because of the Fall.

Pride continues to ravage the hearts of fallen man so that it is the commondenominator between the worst of man and the best of man. Some of the most evilmen in the Bible were condemned for their pride: Cain, Pharaoh (Neh 9:10),Absalom, Belshazzar (Dan 5:22–23), Haman (Esth 3:5), Herod Agrippa (Acts12:21–23), etc. Some of the best men were also afflicted by pride: David (2 Sam24:1ff.), Hezekiah (2 Chr 32:25), Uzziah (2 Chr 26:16), etc. Nations too werecondemned for pride: Israel(Hos 5:5–9), Judah (Jer 13:9), Moab(Isa 16:6), Tyre (Isa 23:9), Babylon(Jer 50:29, 32), Assyria (Ezk 31:3, 10), etc.

But the fact that it is so universal does not make it any less wicked anddangerous, for the Word of God tells us: “Pride goeth before destruction, andan haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov 16:18).

Nature of Pride

The nature of pride can be seen quite clearly in our text. To see it, you needsimply to know that the proverb is structured with a poetic device known asparallelism. The book of Proverbs makes extensive use of parallelism. Usuallythe parallelism involves two phrases which are either complementary orcontrasting. In the verse we are considering, the parallelism is obviouslycomplementary or synonymous. That is to say that “Pride goeth beforedestruction” means the same as “an haughty spirit before a fall.” In otherwords, “pride” is the same as a “haughty spirit.”

Now, from the phrase “haughty spirit,” we can say three things about the natureof pride.

Firstly, we see that pride is something internal. It refers to a state of mind,and not to the outward bearing of a person. It is an inward sentiment orfeeling. Sometimes it manifests itself in the look, in our language, or ourdeportment. We call this manifestation arrogance. But arrogance is not pride.Arrogance usually comes from pride. But pride is in the heart.

Secondly, the word translated “haughty” (Hebrew: gobah) literallymeans “high,” “exalted” or “lofty.” In other words, pride involves the attitudeof looking at ourselves more highly than we really are. It is an overestimationof ourselves; of our own powers; of our own merits; or of our own importance.It involves a looking down upon others.

Thirdly, it may be surprising to some of us, but the word rendered “spirit”(Hebrew: ruach) does actually refer to our spirit or soul. Let meput it this way, it is not an abstract noun referring to our personality,character, disposition or temperament. No, it actually refers to the soul. Inother words, pride is equivalent to having a haughty soul. Or, in other words,pride is spiritual. We must never excuse ourselves and say: “I’m born this way:this is the way I’m constituted. I can’t help it. It is in my genes.” No, prideis not located in the genes. It is located in the soul. It is a sin. So Solomonsays: “ An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin”(Prov 21:4). Pride, in other words, must be dealt with spiritually.

Causes of Pride

From the fact that pride arises from a “haughty spirit,” or soul that has toohigh an estimation of itself, we may derive several causes of pride.

Firstly, pride may arise from ignorance about self. The proud soul fails torecognise that it is a mere finite creature, that it cannot exist in and ofitself, and that nothing added to it by man,—whether by himself, or byothers,—is permanent. He is puffed up by his ancestry, titles, status,authority or wealth (cf. Lev 26:19; Ezk 30:6; 2 Kgs 20:13). And he forgets thatthese things are temporary. They do not survive death even if they are retainedfor an entire lifetime. Yet, these things do tend to increase pride in man.This is why the Apostle Paul, writing to the young pastor Timothy, taught himto: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded [orproud]” (1 Tim 6:17). This is why the Scriptures do not allow novices or newbelievers to be made elders in the church “Lest being lifted up with pride hefall into the condemnation of the devil” (1 Tim 3:6).

Secondly, pride may arise from mental superiority, whether real, supposed, orimagined. This is intellectual pride. It is a pride that is fed by unsanctifiedknowledge. But “Knowledge puffeth up,” says the Apostle Paul (1 Cor 8:1). Thosewho are proud in this way not only look down on those they consider to be lessintelligent than them, but regard the ways of God to be foolish. This is thekind of pride that characterises the Greeks of Paul’s days, the liberalrationalists of today, and the unbelieving philosophers of every age. Theintellectually proud soul believes that his assessment is always right, and heoften relies on his power of reason to the point that he is unwilling to submitto the revelations of God in His Word. Thus, they say: God could not exist; orthere could not be miracles; or there could not be such things as angels anddemons; or the virgin birth could not have occurred; or the resurrection couldnot have occurred. So the intellectually proud would not heed the preaching ofthe Gospel. They say of the preacher it is his opinion. It may be good for him,but I know what is good for me.

Thirdly, pride may arise from an undue estimate of our own goodness orrighteousness. This is religious pride. The Jews, especially the Pharisees, hadthis kind of pride. They regarded themselves as so much better than other men,that they said: “Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier thanthou” (Isa 65:5a); and they prayed: “God, I thank thee, that I am not as othermen are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican” (Lk18:11). This is a pride that, I have no doubt, is found in varying degree inevery religious person, including ministers of the Gospel; for we all have atendency to compare ourselves with others and think ourselves better thanothers. Often, we would see the speck in other’s eyes but fail to see the beamin our own eyes. Even acts of self-abasement can become means ofself-exaltation as we begin to regard ourselves as more humble than others. Ihave even heard one man said: “I am proud of my humility!”

Fourthly, pride may arise from ignorance of or apostasy from God. The proudsoul underestimates the holy requirements of God. He judges by false standardsof excellence. He judges according to his own standard. Ultimately, pride isI-dolatry. It places self in place of God, and makes self god. It is the mostsubtle way of breaking the first commandment, but it is such a breaking of thefirst commandment that brought about the fall of Satan and the fall of man.

Danger of Pride

Proverbs 16:18 says: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spiritbefore a fall.” The ultimate danger of pride is that if it is not checked, itwill lead to destruction or fall. Let’s consider these two terms.

To fall is to be brought to shame or to be brought low or humbled. Another twoproverbs say: “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly iswisdom” (Prov 11:2), “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shalluphold the humble in spirit” (Prov 29:23). In other words, pride does not onlyresult in shame and lowliness, but pride will actually bring these about. Theproud man with an over inflated ego will be humbled when men discover that heis not as great as he puts himself to be. The ultimate fall occurs when theproud man comes face to face with his Creator. On that day, he will surely fallon his knees as he acknowledges his nothingness and nakedness.

What about destruction? It is synonymous with a fall. But it is moredescriptive and intense. It speaks of devastation. It speaks of more than beingbrought to shame or being humbled. It speaks of punishment. Pride is extremelyhateful to God. Proverbs 16:5 makes it very clear: “Every one that is proud inheart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not beunpunished.” The wages of sin is death. God will punish every sin. How muchmore a sin that is specifically called an “abomination to the LORD.” We neednot doubt that every proud person who remains proud will one day face eternaldamnation and destruction. Pride, in other words, must not be looked atlightly.

How does pride lead to such terrible consequences? It does so because it is asnare. It gets a person more and more entangled as long as he remains proud.How so? Let me suggest three ways:

Firstly, the proud heart would not listen to the Word of God through God’sministers. There is a very sad incident recorded in Jeremiah 42–3 in which theleaders of the remnant of the Jews in Bethlehem came to Jeremiah to consult himon whether they should go down to Egypt. They said to Jeremiah: “The LORD be atrue and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all thingsfor the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, orwhether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God” (Jer 42:5–6a).Ten days later, Jeremiah came back with the answer from the Lord that theyshould not go down. But what happened? The leaders refused to believe him. Weare told: “Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son ofKareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakestfalsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt tosojourn there” (Jer 43:2; italics mine).

You see, pride had shut their ears. They had already made up their minds, andthey were not at all prepared to listen to anything contrary to what they hadalready decided. Such is the danger of pride. The proud soul listens to asermon and will only receive what is not against him and what he can agreewith. Tell the proud man that he is living his life wrongly, and he wouldreject the teaching a priori. Tell the proud man that he is asinner heading for damnation, and he would shut his ears.

Secondly, pride hardens the mind so that it is no longer open to hearing reasonor hearing the Gospel. It was said of Nebuchadnezzar that “his heart was liftedup, and his mind hardened in pride” (Dan 5:20). The more proud a soul gets, themore hardened will be his mind to reason. Preach the Gospel to a proud mind.Reason with him that his pride will bring him to doom, but it will not movehim. This is why one who is rich or self-sufficient despises the Gospel. Butwas there no pride in all of us? Were it not for the grace of God in Christ, wewould all have perished in our hardness of hearts and minds.

Thirdly, pride deceives a person as to his true spiritual condition. This snareof pride is mentioned by two prophets, Jeremiah and Obadiah: “Thy terriblenesshath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in theclefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldestmake thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saiththe LORD” (Jer 49:16); “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou thatdwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in hisheart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?” (Ob 1:3).

The result is that the proud soul does not think he needs salvation, and sowill not seek after God. He is self-confident and self-reliant. He does notneed God. So we are told: “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance,will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Ps 10:4).

Remedies Against Pride

Having seen how pride deceives and blinds, I do not ask you to consider if youare proud. I believe that even the best of saints are, more or less, afflictedby pride because of the remnant of their corrupt nature. And ironically, theproudest persons are often those who think themselves to be humblest! May Itherefore urge the application of the following remedies upon you regardlesswhether you consider yourself to be proud:

(a) Cultivate a sense of insignificance, dependence and unworthiness. Do notthink yourself too highly. Do not dwell on your own superiority, real orimaginary. Always humble yourselves. Remember that no matter how good you maybe, you are never good enough. Remember that you are but dust and made of thesame material as earthworms. Remember that you will die one day. Ask yourselfthese two questions: Who made you to differ in your riches and honour? How longwill there be a difference?

Take heed to the call of the Apostle Paul: Do not think of yourself more highlythan you ought to think; but to think soberly. Mind not high things, butcondescend to men of low estate. In honour prefer one another. Be not wise inyour own conceits (Rom 12:3, 10, 11, 16). In other words, learn to become likelittle children, for the Lord Jesus says: “Except ye be converted, and becomeas little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3).

Unless you come to appreciate your nothingness, your soul will be in danger offinal destruction, for by your pride you testify of your allegiance with Satanfor he was condemned for his pride (1 Tim 3:6). Humility, on the other hand, isa necessary quality of every soul that enters the kingdom of heaven, for ourLord, when He was painting a portrait of a true saint, begins by saying:“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3).

(b) Consider the glory of God in all that is done. Seek not your own but thethings of Jesus Christ, and how you may do good to others. “Let nothing be donethrough strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem otherbetter than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every manalso on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in ChristJesus” (Phil 2:3–5). And learn to “be subject one to another, and be clothedwith humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1Pet 5:5). The proud person who considers his own good above the glory of God orthe good of his neighbours immediately becomes the enemy of God.

(c) Bear in mind God’s hatred for pride. If God hates pride so much that Hespared not the angels, but cast them into hell, when they lifted up theirhearts in pride; how much less shall He spare proud dust and ashes which weare? Joseph Hall has well said: “Let us be cast down upon our knees, that wemay not be cast down upon our faces.”

(d) Pray: Grant me a humble heart to know my nothingness and Your greatness.Grant me a lowly mind to see that I am nothing, have nothing and deservenothing but Thy wrath and curse. Pray:

Lord, be pleased to shake my claycottage before thou throwest it down. Make it totter a while before it tumbles.Let me be summoned before I am surprised (Thomas Fuller).

And take heed to the exhortation of Richard Greenham:

The more godly a man is, and themore graces and blessings of God are upon him, the more need he hath to pray,because Satan is busiest against him, and because he is readiest to be puffedup with a conceited holiness.

(e) Seek to know Christ. Listen to the words of God to Habakkuk: “Behold, hissoul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by hisfaith” (Hab 2:4). The proud soul is not upright. It will be cast down. It willdie. Only those who recognise their nothingness and humbly trust in the Lordwill be justified and have eternal life.

In other words, the ultimate remedy for pride is the fear of God and knowingChrist. If you do not fear God in this life and so be humbled to dust and so toembrace Christ as your Saviour and Lord, you shall be brought to your knees infear one day before the God of Wrath. Therefore count all your achievements andall your self-righteousness as dung so that you may attain unto the excellencyof the knowledge of Christ Jesus (see also 2 Corinthians 10:5).

Conclusion

There are some sins which are against self, some against men, some against God.But pride is against all. It is self-destructive, it tends to tear down others,and it exalts itself above God. May the Lord deliver us all from pride and itsdire consequences. Amen.

— J.J. Lim