Pride. There is just something about it that really twists God's arm. He loathes it so much that Jesus had to come down as man to stand as the ultimate testament of a humble God who calls us to value humility just as much as He does.
Imagine what it would be like to have the God of all the universe oppose you. I don't think anyone would ever want to be in a ring opposite God, but His Word makes it clear in James 4:6 where it says, "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
There is nothing wrong with finding pride in other things. Paul often spoke about how proud he was of the early churches. Parents ought to be proud of their children. However, when pride is directed toward the self and in such an excess that it shadows the glory and grace of God, we get into a bad place.
What is it about pride that makes God detest it? Here are a few of the many good reasons why God dislikes pride and arrogance.
Pride belittles the need for God
At the heart of pride is an utter disregard for the need of God's grace and the finished work of Jesus Christ. When we become too proud of our own accomplishments, our own righteousness or our own abilities, we often forget about who God is in our lives and how much of Him we truly need.
God does bless us with abilities, yes, but we know for a fact that God does not want to be cast to the sidelines. He wants us to be dependent on Him. Psalms 10:4 says, "In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, 'There is no God.'"
Pride always leads to our demise
More often than not, pride will often humiliate us. Almost everyone will agree that an arrogant and boastful person becomes a life sucker in a party. At the heart of pride is a deep insecurity and insufficiency that drive people to try to earn their own glory. Proverbs 11:2 says, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
Pride shadows God's grace and gifts
Pride tries to drive us to idolize power, significance and authority. While God does want to grant us power, purpose and authority, He desires for us to always remember that these come only because God is gracious and generous to us.
Everything we have accomplished and acquired come only through the grace of God, not because of who we are and what we've done. Let us learn to ask God for His enabling grace to put our confidence not in ourselves, but rather in God's sufficient grace punctuated by Jesus's death on the cross.
