August 19, 2018
Pride is the mother of all sin. It is the root that exalts us over others and over God Himself and is the antithesis of real love.
God repeatedly reminds us that He opposes the proud for it is a direct assault upon Him. And, it’s in all of us. We see this pride in full color in the life of Haman in the book of Esther. Notice the anatomy of pride.
1. PRIDE ALWAYS LEADS US TO BRAG … because it's no fun unless others notice you.
Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king. (Esther 5:11-12)
2. PRIDE IS NEVER SATISFIED … and it always wants more.
“Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” (Esther 5:13)
3. PRIDE LEADS YOU TO DO REALLY FOOLISH THINGS … like trying to eliminate people who don't bow to you.
Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made. (Esther 5:14)
4. PRIDE MAKES YOU WANT TO ERADICATE EVERYTHING THAT KEEPS YOU FROM BEING EXALTED … because you think you deserve better.
Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him. (Esther 5:14)
5. PRIDE ASSUMES EVERYONE IS INTERESTED IN YOU … why would they not be?
So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?” (Esther 6:6)
6. PRIDE ALWAYS BACKFIRES … because God fundamentally opposes the proud.
Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.” Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?” Esther said, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen. (Esther 7:1-6)
7. PRIDE WILL KILL YOU … and you may find yourself hanging from the gallows you've prepared for others.
So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7:9-10)
It would be wise to check your heart to see if this Haman-spirit is residing there. Deal with it quickly by humble confession and deep repentance. It may save you from the gallows.
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