It is something of interest that in our culture we have made a virtue of something that God hates. In Proverbs 6, the writer says “there are six things that God hates. Seven are an abomination.” He then begins to list those seven things and the first on the list is “Haughty eyes.” That is just another way of saying “pride.” Proverbs 6:16, 17. The reason this is first is because it is the root cause of the other six.

      When we allow pride to infiltrate our lives, it brings about untold problems. Marriages are devastated, churches suffer, businesses become stagnant, and personal relationships are damaged. We all feel we need to take pride in our work, our personal worth, and our independency. If we are saying we want to maintain a certain standard, then we have no quarrel. However if we allow pride to consume us then that is another issue. When we became prideful, then only ugliness surfaces. When Barbara Boxer told a military general that she wanted to be addressed as “senator” because she earned it and worked hard for it, that was the ugliness of pride on display. She will be forever remembered for it. How are you doing with pride? You cannot defeat it on your own.

     Please come and worship with us Sunday, and remember: EVERYONE is welcome here.

Norm