ÿþ<HTML><head><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1"> <TITLE>God & Pride</TITLE> <style>html {max-width: 800px; margin: auto;}</style></HEAD> <BODY bgcolor="#6699cc" TEXT="#000033" LINK="#0066cc" VLINK="#003366" ALINK="#0000FF"> <center><TABLE WIDTH=95% border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="15"><TR> <TD bgcolor="#6699cc" rowspan="1" valign=top width=20%></td><TD bgcolor="#6699cc" rowspan="1" valign=top width=60%> <center> <h1><font size=7 color="#00ffff"><I>God & Pride</I></font></h1> <IMG SRC="../images/hearts-blu.gif" WIDTH=326 HEIGHT=47 ALIGN="middle" ALT="* * *"> <p> </center> </td></tr><TD bgcolor="#6699cc" rowspan="1" valign=top width=20%></td><TD bgcolor="#ffffff" rowspan="1" valign=top width=60%> <font size=4> Sin defiles, rendering repulsive what should be noble and pure. We all know how quickly pride turns ugly when self takes over. Restrained by godliness and empowered by love, however, there is a selfless, uplifting pride that is both beautiful and holy. If you already realize this, you need no explanation and I suggest you return to the <A HREF="../hope/memories.htm#proud">main page</a>. The following is just a side note for readers who have never considered the godly side of pride. <p> Tragically, we fallen creatures can corrupt just about anything. We not only frequently turn pride into sin, we can even pervert humility into sin by, for example, deciding we are incapable of doing something God has declared us able to do.<p> We should be proud of God: <ul><p> <font color=#000099><font color=#0066cc><b>1 Corinthians 1:31</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. as it is written, He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.<p> <font color=#0066cc><b> Jeremiah 9:24</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the Lord. <p> <font color=#0066cc><b> Psalm 89:17</b></font> For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.</font></ul><p> Nevertheless, Im sure there are those who turn even this into an excuse for religious bigotry and other things that turn Gods stomach. <p> It remains possible, however, to be proud of something, in the sense of being pleased with it and delighting in it, without letting that joy erode a humble dependence upon God. Parents can be proud of their newborn, for example, without going to the sinful extreme of feeling superior to anyone, or in any way supplanting God in their lives. Consider this, for example: <ul><p> <font color=#000099><font color=#0066cc><b> Proverbs 17:6</b></font> Childrens children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents. </font></ul><p> And, of course, if anyone can do anything with perfection, it is our God. The Holy Lord can be proud of us in a pure and wholesome manifestation of his love. <p> Here are some biblical examples: <ul><p> <font color=#000099><font color=#0066cc><b>Job 1:8</b></font> The Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.<p> This is repeated in Job 2:3 with the addition, He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause.<p> <font color=#0066cc><b> Matthew 16:17</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.</font></ul><p> Here are more Scriptures speaking of the Lord praising people: <ul><p> <font color=#000099><font color=#0066cc><b> Matthew 25:21</b></font> His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.<p> <font color=#0066cc><b>John 5:44</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. seek the glory <font color=#000000>[or praise, as several versions put it]</font> that comes from the only God?<p> <font color=#0066cc><b> Romans 2:29</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. whose praise is not from men, but from God.<p> <font color=#0066cc><b> 2 Corinthians 10:18</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. whom the Lord commends.<p> <font color=#0066cc><b> 1 Peter 1:7</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. your faith&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ</font></ul><p> Consider even in the beginning of Genesis, the Lord declaring that creation is good, and in the book of Job, the Lord boasting about various animals. For example: <ul><p> <font color=#000099><font color=#0066cc><b>Job 39:18 -24</b></font> When she [the ostrich] lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.<br> Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane? Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men. He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin. He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet. <p> <font color=#0066cc><b>Job 40:15-19</b></font> See now, behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox. Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly. He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are like tubes of brass. His limbs are like bars of iron. He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword. </font></ul><p> <font size=5 color=#0000cc><b>Another Angle</font></b><p> The Old Testament has a Hebrew word, <i> gaown </i> (ÒÐÕß) that is similar to the word pride. It is variously translated, so I will display the word in blue. The identical word can be applied to something godly or sinful, depending on the context. <p> <b>Examples of it used in a godly sense</b><ul><p> <font color=#000066><font color=#0066cc><b>Exodus 15:7</b></font> In the greatness of your <b><font color=#0000cc>excellency</font></b>, you overthrow those who rise up against you.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. <p> <font color=#0066cc><b> Psalm 47:4</b></font> He chooses our inheritance for us, the <b><font color=#0000cc>glory</font></b> of Jacob whom he loved.<p> <font color=#0066cc><b> Isaiah 24:14</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. They will shout for the <b><font color=#0000cc>majesty</font></b> of the Lord.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. </font></ul><p> <b>Examples of the same word used in a sinful sense</b><ul><p> <font color=#000066><font color=#0066cc><b> Leviticus 26:19</b></font> I will break the <b><font color=#0000cc>pride</font></b> of your power&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. <p> <font color=#0066cc><b> Job 35:12</b></font> There they cry, but no one gives answer, because of the <b><font color=#0000cc>pride</font></b> of evil men.<p> <font color=#0066cc><b> Proverbs 8:13</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. I hate pride, <b><font color=#0000cc>arrogance</font></b>, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.<p> <font color=#0066cc><b> Proverbs 16:18</b></font> <b><font color=#0000cc>Pride</font></b> goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.</font></ul><p> <b>New Testament Greek</b> has the word <i> kauchema</i> (º±ÅÇ·¼±) often translated boasting. It is similar to our word pride in that it can be used for <b>sinful pride</b>. For example: <ul><p> <font color=#000066><font color=#0066cc><b> 1 Corinthians 5:6</b></font> Your boasting is not good.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. </font></ul><p> <b>The same word, however, can be used in good sense:</b><ul><p> <font color=#000066><font color=#0066cc><b> 1 Corinthians 9:15</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void. <p> <font color=#0066cc><b> 2 Corinthians 1:14</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. <p> <font color=#0066cc><b> 2 Corinthians 5:12</b></font> For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.<p> <font color=#0066cc><b> 2 Corinthians 9:3</b></font> But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. </font></ul><p> <b>This also applies to the related word</b>, <i> kauchesis</i> (º±ÅǷùÂ). It is sometimes used to describe sinful behavior, such as: <ul><p> <font color=#000099><font color=#0066cc><b>Romans 3:27</b></font> Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. <p> <font color=#0066cc><b> James 4:16</b></font> But now you glory in your boasting <font color=#000000>[pronouncing that you will do things in the future, when God alone has control of our future]</font>. All such boasting is evil. </font></ul><p> But it is also used to describe something acceptable. For example: <ul><p> <font color=#000099><font color=#0066cc><b> 2 Corinthians 7:4</b></font> &nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. <p> <font color=#0066cc><b> 2 Corinthians 7:14</b></font> For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth. <p> <font color=#0066cc><b> 2 Corinthians 8:24</b></font> Therefore show the proof of your love to them in front of the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf. </font></ul><p> <center><font size=6><b><A HREF="../hope/memories.htm#proud">Back</a></b></center><p> </TD><TD rowspan="1" valign=top width=20%> <center>&nbsp;<P><font color=#6699cc><font size=4> <font color=#000000><font size=6 color=#ffffff><b>Bible Versions Used</b></font><br> <font size=3>(Unless otherwise specified) </font><p> <font size=5 color=#ffffff>King James Version </font><p> <font size=3>Place mouse or equivalent over a Bible reference on-line<p> <font size=5 color=#ffffff> World English Bible</font><br> <font size=3> (<A HREF="../web.htm">Slightly Modified</a>) <p> Appears in the text</font><p> <font size=4 color=#ffffff><b>For more information, see <A HREF="../version.htm">Bible Version Dilemmas</a></b></center><p> </td> </table><script type="text/javascript" src="http://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js"></script><style>.vcVerseLink{text-decoration:none;}</style></BODY></HTML>