Avoid Arrogance
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5, ESV)
For Insight
Have you noticed when you read the Book of Proverbs, that Solomon has a lot to say about the topic or disposition of arrogance? In fact, he identifies it as a condition of the heart, not just a feeling or attitude. Arrogance is a way of the obstinate, rooted in disbelief and pride. Followers of Christ, on the other hand, are to be different; a breath of fresh air in a stale and sin-saturated world. They are not to have an attitude nor disposition of arrogance. Because they belong to the Lord arrogance has no place in their attitude, mindset, or heart. Arrogance would be one of those things Solomon warns us to “guard our heart against.” (Pro. 4:23)
People who are arrogant tend to feel they are better than others, not only set apart, but above and have no need to be under the authority of God; perhaps they are too good for God or can do things, handle life, all by themselves, without God’s help or assistance. A spirit of arrogance can even rule the heart of God’s people if we allow it. Instead of humility we can be snobbish, walk around with our spiritual noses in the air, entertaining an attitude that suggests we must be more spiritual, holier, and favored than “normal” believers. In many of his letters Paul helps us understand how arrogance is not only unattractive but sin, and God cannot bless the arrogant heart or attitude.
Paul says since we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) can we afford to entertain an arrogant attitude? Since we all, like sheep have gone our own way (Isaiah 53:6) can we have an arrogant heart or mindset? In the kingdom or the service of God there is no room for arrogance and no basis for it.
When we feel arrogance creeping in or underlying our thoughts or heart we can remember we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and we are no better than sheep who have gone their own way, rejecting God’s guidance. We can ask God to search us and heal us; ask him to replace our arrogance with humility and a dose of spiritual reality seeing who we (really) are and where we would be without Jesus to intervene and save us again and again.
Praying Proverbs 16:5
Lord, we don’t want to be included with those who suffer or are punished because they are arrogant. When we are headed down that path—even for a moment—bring us back to the right side, the side and way that pleases you. Amen
Prayer Challenge
Pray the Lord will snatch you from the fires of arrogance even when it feels justified and warranted.
Digging Deeper
Devotionally Yours 