We all have flaws.  Some flaws we will probably carry for the rest of our lives because they are not that significant, but then, there are others that we ignore at our own peril.  Flaws, that if we ignore them, could lead to the destruction of our souls.  These are flaws that need fixing.

Pride is one such flaw.  It is a major flaw because it is despised by God.  Haughty eyes are listed as one of the seven things hated by the Lord (Proverbs 6:17).

Arrogance has given many the courage (stupidity is probably the better word) to fight against God.  Who can forget Pharaoh’s response to God’s demand to let His people go?

Exodus 5:2 (ESV)
²  But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

Pharaoh was ignorant of God and His power, which is what allowed him to maintain such an arrogant attitude towards Him.  What was surprising was that even after several demonstrations of God’s unmatchable power, power which clearly none of the false gods of Egypt possessed, Pharaoh never let go of his pride.

This shows us how hard it is to overcome arrogance.  When someone is full of pride, it is difficult for him or her to change because it is based on self-deception.  Usually, those who are overcome with pride are the last ones to see it, if they ever see it at all.  Do you remember Our Lord’s parable of the arrogant Pharisee who lost touch with reality at some point?

Luke 18:11-12 (ESV)
¹¹  The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹²  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

The good deeds done by this man blinded him to the fact that he needed a Savior.  He should have been thanking God for His grace, but instead, he thanked God for his deeds, which probably were not even done with the right condition of heart.  The arrogant have a hard time seeing any of their flaws, let alone the flaw of arrogance.  This keeps them in a lost condition.  Jesus said it was the man that the Pharisee despised, that is, the tax collector, who went down to his house justified (Luke 18:14).  Why?  Because he was honest enough with himself to see that he was a sinner, allowing him to ask for mercy.

Those who are arrogant have an awfully hard time changing course.  God had to turn Nebuchadnezzar into a beast to get him to humble himself (Daniel 4).  Let us all make sure we examine ourselves regularly to make sure that we are not allowing pride to get the best of us in any area of our lives.  Remember, we are what we are by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10), and to think overwise will surely incur the wrath of God.

James 4:6 (ESV)
⁶  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.