What’s in Your Heart?
“For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.” (Psalm 138:6)
The epitome of pride is when a person rejects God; they don’t ‘need’ Him, or worse, they think themselves to be god or like God. Such was the case with Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. Moses did as God told him, “Tell Pharaoh to let My people go!” But Pharaoh’s pride was too great – he even exclaimed, “Who is this God that I should bow down and worship Him! I will not worship him, nor will I let your people go.” Pharaoh assumed that in his greatness and strength, he could contend with the Almighty.
Scripture tells us that “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to humble.”
Wrong answer Pharaoh.
King David’s submissive temper was the exact opposite of Pharaoh’s; he had a true heart of humility. This is readily seen in Psalm 8, when he prayed, “Lord, You made the heavens and the earth! What is man that you should even be mindful of him?” In other words, you are God, and I am not. I humbly submit myself to you. Such humility should be present in the heart of every child of God.
It could be noted that humility attracts, and pride repels. Would be to God that we possess Christ’s spirit: “Being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient…”
Life is so much fuller and our minds are at peace when God is on the throne. Ultimately, we will only have one thing to prove – were we full of ourselves, or were we filled with Him?
“My Heart is Not Proud, my eyes are not haughty”
(Psalms 131)
“Is there ambition in my heart? Search, gracious God, and see;
Or do I act a haughty part? Lord, I appeal to thee.”
(Isaac Watts – 1674 – 1748)