FROM VERY EARLY in time Lucifer (Satan) was cast out of heaven because of pride.
Lucifer’s beauty, wisdom and might – all the good things created in him by God – led him to pride. His pride led to his rebellion and fall.
Throughout the scriptures we learn that pride is a sin and that God hates sin. There are at least 30 verses denouncing pride. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goeth before destruction and haughtiness before a fall.”
Pride is a form of idolatry – self-idolatry. The kind of pride the Bible condemns is a pride that puts ourselves first, and leaves God out of the picture. When that happens we take credit for everything we accomplish and we live only to please ourselves.
Pride is at the root of almost every other sin. I Peter 5:5 states, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Throughout history we see that kings and empires have fallen because of pride. There is evidence of that right here in the Caribbean.
Thirty years ago the West Indies cricket team was invincible. We boasted how naturally talented we were and that it was all in our genes. Where are we now?
We Barbadians boasted that we were the gem of the Caribbean. We were better than all the other islands. Everything worked better and our dollar was worth more. Twelve years ago we were told that we would soon become a developed country.
Daniel 5:20 states, “But his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.”
God wants us to be humble, not self-exalted, otherwise we will be humbled. A Jamaican newspaper states that Barbados is a fallen angel.
In Matthew 23:12 Jesus says, “Whosoever shall exalt himself will be humbled and he that shall humble himself will be exalted.”
It is not too late, however, because God’s word says in II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will they hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
We need to humble ourselves and pray that God will give us persons in authority not given to pride and arrogance but who are clothed in humility.
– DR RONALD G. WEBSTER
