CONTENDING WITH GOD
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Memorize: Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. Proverbs 13:10

Read: James 4:6-7

Apart from impure thoughts and cravings of the body, another area you must exert your victory over the flesh is pride. As stated in the memory verse, a proud person is always in contention - fighting with those he thinks he is better than; such a fellow will do everything to show that he is better than them. The proud is always in competition with those who appear better off, just to prove a point that he or she is superior. In doing this, the proud will make derogatory statements about such people and cut them to size just to show that he knows it better or can do it better.

The proud finds it difficult to acknowledge the sincere work or effort of others because he thinks such will displace him from being on top. The proud sees himself or herself as number one in all things. Apart from contending with men, the proud also contends with God. Anyone who is proud or haughty and is speaking so much about God is only a pretender.

By reason of their contention with God, they have enthroned self as number one in their lives, making God their running mate. Are you finding it difficult to recognize the efforts of those that are better than you in certain areas? You are simply proud. Psalms 73:6 says some people are compassed with pride. This implies that it is possible for pride to be visibly glaring in the life of someone that is full of it.

You can be clothed in pride just as you can be clothed in humility. You can identify a proud person from his or her looks, carriage, dressing, speech, behavior, giving, prayer, Christian service, work, attitude, etc. Unfortunately, Isaiah 13:11 says the same reason that makes the proud fellow haughty is the reason that will make him fall.

Every proud individual is headed for a fall and proud people end up being destroyed (Proverbs 16:18). Some people are proud but they don't know it. If you exalt yourself by your words and conduct, you shall be abased (Matthew 23:12). James 4:6 speaks of something quite frightening: It says God resists the proud which confirms that God is always contending with the proud. Is there pride in your heart? Ask God for forgiveness and to uproot every trace of it from your life today.

KEY POINT: The humble is more powerful than the proud because whereas the humble has access to unlimited grace, the proud may not access an iota of grace.