The Ballestero Blog

The Sin Of Arrogance

We don’t hear arrogance preached about very often, do we? I wonder why. Could it be that the subject may come a little too close to home?

Some familiar Bible characters had problems with arrogance.

Belshazzar Was Arrogant And Defiant.

Dan 5:22  And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

Dan 5:23  But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

Dan 5:25  And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

Dan 5:26  This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

Dan 5:27  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

He was cursed because, although he knew to do right, he wouldn’t change. He not only became arrogant, but also defiant.

Pharaoh Was Arrogant And Proud.

Ex. 5:2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Exo 10:3  And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

Saul Was Arrogant and Stubborn.

1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king

He said – I have sinned, nevertheless bless me.

1Sam. 15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee,

New Testament Church Members That Were Arrogant And Presumptuous.

2 Pet 2:10  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Likewise, Some Today:

• Won’t listen
• Won’t apologize
• Are never wrong
• Don’t want help
• Know it all
• Won’t hear
• Won’t change
• Ignore help
• Won’t repent
• Aren’t convicted

Arrogance Will Cause you to:

• Ignore God’s word
• Backslide
• Rebel
• Ignore help
• Feel superior
• Feel invincible
• Become Unteachable

Nabal Was So Arrogant, A Man Couldn’t Reason With Him.

1 Sam 25:17  Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

Arrogance Cursed By God.

• Saul lost his kingdom and God wouldn’t talk to him anymore

• Belshazzar lost his kingdom and his life

God’s Condemnation Of Arrogance.

Prov 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Adjective: forward,

Usage: archaic

1. Habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

• headstrong, self-willed, willful
• See also: disobedient

The Spirit Of Arrogance Is Not A Teachable Spirit.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

1 Sam 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

• Don’t Become UNTEACHABLE

God’s Cure for Arrogance

2 Chr 7:14  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.

• He’ll forgive the sin of arrogance.  (It is a sin.)
• Humility is the cure!
• Humble your selves!

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

• Nabal wouldn’t listen, will you?
• Belshazzar wouldn’t listen, will you?
• Saul wouldn’t listen, will you?
• Pharaoh wouldn’t listen, will you?
• Naaman finally listened, got humble and obeyed, will you?

Arrogance almost robbed Naaman of his miracle! Don’t let that happen to you.

May we always walk humbly before God and our fellow-man.