PRIDE AND VANITY CAST NETS OVER OUR SOULS
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“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a
fall. Better to be of a humble spirit
with the lowly, then to divide the spoil with the proud.”—Proverbs 16:18-19
Pride and vanity cast a net over our souls and brings us into captivity. Many times the words pride and vanity are
used interchangeably, but they are different.
Pride refers to a person’s sense of arrogance and self-importance while
vanity most often refers to a sense of pride in personal appearance. Pride and vanity both present dangers to us.
We
can have pride and vanity in a variety of ways in our lives. A proud and vain spirit can be evident no
matter what economic or culture that a person is in or has come from. People from each spectrum—rich or
poor—well-dressed or in rags can walk in pride and vanity. Pride knows no economic or cultural
boundaries.
Pride
is very much hated by God. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride
and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate” (Proverbs
8:13). But, God is instantly
forgiving when pride is replaced by humility.
We
are warned not to put undo attention into our outward personal appearance, but
that are attention should be to the hidden person of the heart, “Do not let your adornment be merely
outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let
it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle
and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4).
Charles
Finney wrote in his autobiography about a wealthy woman who was under
conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit, but was afraid to receive salvation
because she did not want it to interfere with the fun plans that she was
making. She agreed to see Rev. Finney
and pray with him. While they were
praying together, Rev. Finney felt impressed to pray that she would become as a
little child and receive salvation. This
burden of prayer was much impressed upon his mind and as he continued to pray
along these lines he began to hear her say the same thing…asking the Lord to
make her “as a little child.” When she
repented of her pride and humbly came to God as a little child she received
salvation. “…assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as
little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew
18:3).
Humility
will always break pride. One of the outward
signs of humility is to kneel in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal any
areas of pride in your life. Genuine
repentance will follow the humbling of yourself as a little child and God will
cleanse your soul of vanity and pride. “Behold you desire truth in the inward
parts; and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, that
the bones [the pride and vanity] you have broken may rejoice…Create in me a
clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me… Restore to me the
joy of Your salvation and uphold me in Your generous Spirit” (Psalm 51: 6-12).
When
we ask the Lord to deliver us from the
spear of the enemy of pride and vanity, He will deliver us from the will of
our adversary, the devil (Psalm 27:12).
Father—today I genuinely repent of pride and
vanity and I ask for Your forgiveness.
Cleanse me Lord, and renew a right spirit within me, teach me Your ways
and lead me in the path of righteousness, in Jesus Name. Amen.
