The tax collector is so painfully aware of his sins and unworthiness before God that he cannot even lift his eyes as he stands in the back of the temple, far from the altar. Rather, we must be honest and realistic about who and what we are. 7. and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. How do we get wisdom? Thomas A. Tarrants, III, D. Min. Pride is a prison that perpetuates anger, hurt, and foolishness while keeping at bay the restorative effects of conviction, humility, and reconciliation (Proverbs 11:2; 29:23; Galatians 6:3; James 4:6; Revelation 3:17–20).
The widespread, chronic preoccupation with self in American culture, for example, is rooted in pride and can give rise to or intensify our emotional problems. “Evil way” in this verse means bad road, and it means the wrong way to go. Specifics will vary from person to person, but certain things are common to us all. If this sounds like exaggeration, it will help us to know that Lewis is not simply giving us his private opinion but summarizing the thinking of great saints through the ages. His succinct statement about pride and humility goes straight to the heart of what the Bible teaches about the deadly root of our sins and sorrows. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind… These Bible studies are published by the MIDDLETOWN BIBLE CHURCH, 349 East Street, Middletown, Connecticut 06457 (U.S.A.). Elisha sees right through these charades and even sends a messenger instead of going himself (the first insult) to tell Naaman to wash himself in the Jordan River (the second insult). Pride provokes God’s displeasure, and he has committed himself to oppose it. Augustine and Aquinas both taught that pride was the root of sin.2 Likewise Calvin, Luther, and many others.
Angered, Elisha curses his servant, and the servant has Naaman’s leprosy for the rest of his life. Through these instructions, the prophet is trying to point out something – that Naaman has an ailment beyond physical leprosy.
Through his humbling cure, Naaman learns that riches and earthly possessions don’t matter (Matthew 6:19-21). “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. It was pride that caused Lucifer to be cast out of heaven and Adam and Eve to be cast out of Eden. Sadly self-promotion, in pursuit of reputation, influence, and “success,” is evident in some ministry leaders even today. Self-importance and godless self-confidence grow stronger. It is a good thing to have a proper fear of God. Few people today seem to be aware of the danger of spiritual pride, but spiritual leaders throughout the history of the church have always seen it as a great plague and tool of the devil. These lessons may be reproduced with our permission. An instructive lesson on religious pride from the New Testament is found in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke18:9–14). And “perverse mouth” comes from Hebrew words that mean to habitually say things that are the opposite of what is right and kind so as to create antagonism or trouble. No matter how much time we devote to community service, give at the communion plate, etc., we can’t bribe God.
As a means of thanks, Naaman tries to give Elisha a gift. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Image.
There are hints in the text that at some point on the road to the top, he stopped seeking the Lord and the spiritual mentoring of Zechariah. Elisha refuses. 2:9–11). What is the first thing that Wisdom says, “I hate”? Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. She began to look at the forbidden fruit in a new light, as something attractive to the eyes and pleasant to the touch. Lewis observed, “Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense”5 The depth of pride can vary from one person to the next and can be obvious or concealed. What determines whether someone is elect or reprobate? Ironically, this is true even when these things come as a result of God’s blessings. Dr. Alan L. Gillen explains this more here for Answers in Genesis. What does this verse say brings someone low? Perhaps like Naaman, we’ve attempted to bribe God into working a miracle cure for us on our terms. It is aimed at those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” It addresses spiritual pride, an especially subtle and dangerous temptation of religious people and leaders, which has been very much in evidence in recent years. Those who worked the longest think they’ll get a bigger cut. Pride is a heart-attitude sin that overflows into a person’s motivation, decision-making, and activities. 84. Will being prideful cause you to be admired? It imparts the aroma of Christ to all whom we encounter. Pride first appears in the Bible in Genesis 3, where we see the devil, that “proud spirit” as John Donne described him, using pride as the avenue by which to seduce our first parents. It doesn’t matter that Naaman had riches. As C.S.
16:18). Rich, poor, saved during childhood or saved on our deathbeds, God offers the same salvation freely and willingly.