Proverbs 16: (AMP)

⁵Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord;
Be assured he will not go unpunished.

Phew, that one just sort of hits you right between the eyes , doesn’t it? We can’t water it down or sugar coat Hos word. Our God detests when we elevate our station and haughtily consider others. The word here for “hates” is tow`ebah, meaning “A disgusting thing, an abomination. “

These are strong words against pride and arrogance. The KJV adds a little wrinkle to this proverb that the other translations do not:

⁵Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

It seems clear that through pride and arrogance, we place ourselves on elevated platforms and we join hands with others that seem important, powerful and influential in our worlds. Entire infrastructures and governments are built in this way- squelching out the highest places that God should only inhabit. Pride and arrogance center on self. I remember in the seventies there was this entire movement of “Looking out for number 1”. This is the world’s economy, where we are all staked against each other for the biggest piece of the pie. In this mindset, if you have a big piece of pie, there is less for me. This is a dog eat dog mentality of climbing to the top,

In God’s economy, looking out for number one is feeding His one lost sheep. It is bowing down to help a widow or orphan. In humility and service, we offer all that we have to His number ones. We feed them so much pie and offer to give them a take home container so that they can feast upon His goodness when they are alone and they can contemplate His faithfulness in the quiet of their hearts.

In this economy, though we give extravagantly – the pie never diminishes, but actually multiplies. We give extravagantly and we love recklessly, and we are fed with blessing upon blessing, upon blessing. Welcome to the upside down, right side up of Kingdom living, where for me to live is Christ and to die is gain!! (Phillipians 1:21)

Let’s pray:

Lord, help us to trust in Your economy. The world demands elevation, while you demand humility. Both are diametrically opposed to each other. To live in one economy is to live in opposition to the other. Kingdom living takes faith. Multiply our faith today Lord, from the smallest mustard seed, let the mightiest of trees grow. Help us to hold each other up and love recklessly. Help us to support each other and encourage each other in their gift sets – walking away from petty jealousies and competition. Thank you for Your word that directs the ramblings of our hearts and minds and keeps us on Your path of righteousness. May this day bring a smile to Your lips as we bow in service to our King.