Are we Proud or Thankful?

Most people use phrases like, “I’m proud of my achievements”, “I’m proud of my children” or "I’m house-proud", but how many of us are thankful to God for the blessings He has given us? Our thoughts, words and deeds should reveal that we know that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). Therefore are we guilty of failing to glorify God and praising self instead? Maybe rather than saying that we are proud of such-and-such we can say that we are truly thankful to God for the blessings that He sends our way.

The proud are never thankful

There are over 100 verses that relate directly to pride in the Bible, and in every instance it is condemned by God. In fact, pride actually provokes His anger and wrath! Let’s take a look at a few verses from the book of Proverbs on this subject:

“The Lord will destroy the house of the proud” (15:25); “Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord” (16:5); “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18); “An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked is sin” (21:4); “A man’s pride shall bring him low” (29:23).

Most believers will try to defend themselves by saying that their pride is different from that condemned by the Lord, but are we not deceiving ourselves? Is it not true that a heart of pride never thanks God for His goodness, mercy and grace? “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). The proud never cease to exalt themselves, “whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Pride and unthankfulness are certainly evident in most people in the world today, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

The humble are always thankful

Like David we should pray, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). It is never acceptable to God for pride to be in our hearts. We do not deserve the least of God’s blessings. If we want to change from being proud to thankful, we must begin by making a personal commitment to say, “I am thankful to God for …” rather than “I am proud of …” By doing this we are acknowledging that the blessing is from the Lord and not of our own making. Then we will be stating that we are praising God for His love and care.

God has given some special promises in His word that applies only to those who humble themselves before Him, one of which reads, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). How can we be abundantly blessed by God? Does it begin with giving more money to the church or doing charitable acts? No, instead personal humility in word, thought and deed is the initial requirement. If pride remains in our hearts then we cannot receive God’s blessings, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (see 1 Peter 5:5-6). It is only the humble that can thank and praise God for His wonderful gifts. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4) … “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15).

The apostle John writes in 1 John 2:16, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Jesus, with regards to His followers, said, “Ye are not of the world” (John 15:19), therefore we ought to conduct ourselves in humility instead of pride.

Conclusion

There must be no room for pride in our lives. Let us replace any pride still remaining with thankfulness towards God. If we are going to boast about anything, let our boasting be about the great things God has done for us through Christ. “In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever” (Psalm 44:8). Let us repent of our pride, turn back to God, and be thankful for His goodness and faithfulness toward us.