God Resists the Proud, But Gives Grace to the Humble

Posted on 01/30/2023 by goodnewsfromadistantland — Leave a comment

No one needs to be taught how to be hard-hearted, proud, self-important, or arrogant – we are all born that way!

The scary thing about pride is that God resists those who are proud or arrogant. As the Scriptures tell us, pride is abominable to Yahuwah Elohim [the Hebrew name for the LORD God]:

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahuwah [the LORD]. (Proverbs 16:5a)
As the Scriptures say, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. (James 4:6b)
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. (1Peter 5:5b)

Evidences of a Prideful Heart

Pride is a strong spiritual darkness that will blind us spiritually, and will eventually lead us into deception if we do not change our ways.

I have been thinking about this lately, because pride is a spiritual darkness that tends to prevail, or periodically overtake everyone. No one is exempt from the darkness of pride! When the darkness of pride covers us, then the Light of God’s Word is extinguished.

I have noticed that whenever a prideful attitude prevails in someone, that person is not following one basic instruction in the Bible (myself included at times):

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19)

A person with a prideful attitude has a very difficult time hearing and listening to others, and is oftentimes very hasty to speak out with anger. As we saw in 5 Characteristics of the Foolish, being quick to become angry is the reaction of fools. Unfortunately all of us have experienced that irritated, fuming feeling that can burst forth from us quick as a flash.

Many people actually prefer a proud, hardened heart because it seems to them that having a hardened heart implies human strength, assurance, and independence. To the hard-hearted, any tenderness or thoughtful consideration is unattractive, because it seems to them as weak, aimless, and disgraceful.

The proud foolishly (often unknowingly) scoff and argue against their Creator, to their own hurt. They attempt to operate themselves by their own human wisdom, understanding, and opinions. We have all done this! We proudly think we can manage just fine without heeding the wisdom and truth of God’s Word — His Instruction Manual, the Bible!

If Yahuwah Elohim [the LORD God] is saddened by our behaviour, then He will send us warnings, as we saw in God’s Faithful Warning Signals: Learning Our Lessons. If we are going in a wrong direction by behaving with a proud and stubborn attitude, God will try to get our attention by warning us with resistance.

A good way to check ourselves to discern if we are treating a difficult situation with a hard and stubborn attitude is to ask ourselves: “Am I willing to listen and consider that the other person might be right and I might be wrong?” This would be a good question to consider because behaving with a prideful attitude only ends in trouble and disgrace: Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall (stumble, fail, ruin, cast down). (Proverbs 16:18; see also Proverbs 11:2; 13:10; Psalm 31:10); Woe unto him that strives with his Maker. (Isaiah 45:9a).

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.” — C. S. Lewis

Evidences of a Humble Heart

If we are truly humble, then we will seek to avoid arrogance, avoid self-centered attitudes, and renounce our indifference toward Yahuwah. The humble recognize the limits of human understanding and reasonings, and instead rely and depend on Yahuwah and the supreme wisdom of His Word. As we saw in To This One Will I Look, it is the humble who understand their own weaknesses, and are therefore more tender-hearted toward others.

One who is truly wise will seek to learn to be as our Saviour, who was meek and lowly (humble) of heart (Matthew 11:29 ). Being lowly means we will be empty, deflated — meaning we will not be puffed up with pride and selfishness — just like our Saviour, who empitied Himself and humbled Himself by becoming a servant. (Luke 22:27; see also Philippians 2:5-8)

The humble, the lowly, will choose to be more understanding of others, patient and teachable. And the humble will talk to Father God often, admitting their needs and sorrows, or expressing their joys and most importantly, expressing thanksgiving for Father’s abundant lovingkindness!

Those of a humble heart know that humility is a choice, a decision of our own will, as Yahuwah Himself has often told us: “Humble yourself!” (James 4:10; see also Micah 6:8; 2Chronicles 32:26; 2Chronicles 33:12,). The truly humble have learned that humility is a day-by-day choice. Over and over, those of a humble heart make the choice to be tender-hearted and/or repentant.

Behaving with a humble attitude has the promise of refreshment and comfort and well-being as the Proverbs tell us: Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:7-8; see also Isaiah 57:15)

“If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. To think of oneself as nothing, and to always think well and highly of others is A Most Perfect Wisdom.” — Thomas a Kempis (See Romans 12:3,10,16)

Resistance — or Assistance

So what do we want? Resistance from God — or Assistance from God?

As we ponder this question, let us remember something that is very important:

Yahuwah Elohim [the LORD God] is the Creator of the universe, and He is the only Righteous, Living, Eternal, All-Mighty God, and He is infinitely superior to all human wisdom and reasonings. There is no one who can withstand His power, or say to Him, What are You doing??

As mortal human beings, no matter how high our IQ, no matter how much ‘brain-power’ we might possess, none of us can withstand the all-knowing, all-powerful, immortal Creator of all things! God is far, far bigger than you and me, in every way!! We are little in power, and little in knowledge. We are simply little creatures. We are dust and ashes, in comparison to Yahuwah Elohim — the LORD God Almighty (see Genesis 2:7 and Genesis 3:19 and Genesis 18:27 and Job 11:7-8).

When conflicts and contentions darken our path, if we are puzzled and confused, then perhaps, not always, but perhaps we are in a place where God, in His great mercy, is warning us and resisting us because of a prideful attitude.

If we are quick to become angry, being disgusted and resentful with others and with our situation, think about what Father God tells us: He who is soon angry acts foolishly. (Proverbs 14:17a) and A fool’s lips enter into arguments. (Proverbs 18:6a)

It is the ‘high’ (proud and exalted) regard we place on our own thoughts, our own imaginations, and our own opinions, that often lead us to become hardened, arrogant, contentious, and bitter. These kind of attitudes are the things that Yahuwah [the LORD] resists:

Every one that exalts himself shall be abased (humbled); and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:14b)
The Most High, the King of heaven, is able to humble those who walk in pride! (Daniel 4:37b)
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down. (Isaiah 2:11a)

But if we desire Yahuwah’s assistance in the midst of conflicts and contentions, then we will take the pathway of humility by talking to the heavenly Father and acknowledging our need for Him: In all your ways acknowledge Him [Yahuwah/the LORD], and He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:6)

We must make this first step of humility toward God before we can know His direction or intervention on our behalf. Father does indeed want us to know His direction because He is loving and compassionate (Psalm 86:15). But we must first humble ourselves by choosing to seek Him by our own free will!

We humble ourselves by choosing, with our words and actions, to depend on Yahuwah’s Word, depend on the Holy Spirit’s confirming guidance within us, and maintain a thankful heart. And, we humble ourselves by seriously considering that we might be wrong about any disturbing issue.

Humility: Wondrous, Mysterious, Rewarding

As the Scriptures teach us, there is something wondrous, mysterious, and rewarding, about being humble!

Notice these 8 rewarding promises to the humble:

And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28)
The way of Yahuwah [the LORD] is strength to the upright. (Proverbs 10:29a)
For Yahuwah [the LORD] takes pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation. (Psalm 149:4)
But godliness with contentment is great gain (1Timothy 6:6)
But know that Yahuwah [the LORD] has set apart him that is godly for Himself: Yahuwah [the LORD] will hear when I call unto Him. (Psalm 4:3)
With the lowly is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2b)
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously, and reproaches not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)
For thus says the High and Exalted One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, (I dwell) also with him 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)

Humility – An On-Going Quality

Walking in humility is a choice to ‘depart from evil.’ It is “the way of the LORD,” and it is a choice to be like our Saviour Yahushua Messiah [the Hebrew name for Jesus Christ]. Yahushua was patient, compassionate, and meek, and He always sought the guidance of His Father.

Let us earnestly desire to be humble and honest about our own limited understanding, because it is to the humble (the lowly) that God imparts His wisdom, strength, encouragement, and thus His assistance.

God gives His grace (His enablement) to the humble, to those who look to Him, call upon Him, and rely on Him and His promises. Out of His abundant love and great mercy, Yahuwah [the LORD] has given us His Word and His Holy Spirit — to guide us, and to help us know the best way to live our daily lives. But we must humble ourselves and seek Him by being open, teachable, and tender-hearted toward Him and His Word.

Humility is an on-going quality with those who are following, and walking with, Yahuwah [the LORD] for it is the humble who experience His amazing, and marvellous, enabling grace!

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Thank You Father God, for Your Holy Spirit that is always seeking to guide me in the way that I should go. Help me Father, to look to You in the midst of my troubles and struggles. Help me to keep a humble heart whenever I encounter difficulties. Help me to seek You diligently, and study and learn Your Word for myself. Help me Father, to always trust Your Word, even when there seems to be no hope! I pray in the name of Your Son, Messiah Yahushua [Christ Jesus]. Amen.

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