Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
Proverbs 3:34 (ESV)

Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, Yet He gives His grace [His undeserved favor] to the humble [those who give up self-importance].
Proverbs 3:34 (AMP)

I had no idea.

Every time I willfully ignored the commands of God. Every time I foolishly took for granted the grace of Jesus. Every time I arrogantly avoided the counsel of the Holy Spirit. Every time I ungraciously corrected a friend. Every time I selfishly didn’t consider the feelings of others because I was pridefully believing my feelings were more important than theirs. Every time I hastily disregarded feedback.

Every time. Every. Single. Time.

EVERY TIME I TOOK A POSTURE OF PRIDE, I WAS UNKNOWINGLY, NEGATIVELY SHIFTING GOD’S POSTURE TOWARDS ME.

About Proverbs 3:34 Matthew Henry comments…

Those who exalt themselves shall certainly be abased: Surely he scorns the scorners. Those who scorn to submit to the discipline of religion, scorn to take God’s yoke upon them, scorn to be beholden to his grace, who scoff at godliness and godly people, and take a pleasure in bantering and exposing them, God will scorn them, and lay them open to scorn before all the world. He despises their impotent malice, sits in heaven and laughs at them, Ps. 2:4. He retaliates upon them (Ps. 18:26); he resists the proud.

But this explains it.

This explains why, during the seasons in my life where I prioritized my pride, I lacked intimacy with my Heavenly Father. This explains why I could sit in a life-giving church service, but not feel the presence of God. This explains why everything I did always felt like striving. This explains why every pursuit felt like an uphill climb. This explains why the winds of life always felt like they were blowing against me…hard.

My pride was causing God to resist me. To scorn me. To have contempt for me.

Are you aware?

Are you aware that your pride and arrogance towards God and others pits God against you? Are you aware that at the exact point that you resist God, God resists you? “Towards the scorners he is scornful.” Recognize.

Please pray with me…

REVERENCE
Heavenly Father, we praise you for truth that clarifies. We praise you for truth that explains. We praise you for passages of Scripture that give us insight into your nature. You have resisted us, because we have, first, resisted you. We praise you for this revelation. We worship you as a God who reveals.

RESPONSE
Forgive us of this grievous sin. We repent of our sin of pride. We surrender our pride, our arrogance, our desire for our way, in our time, into your hands. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. Not ours. Not ours!

REQUESTS
Open up our spiritual eyes to the spiritual reality that a posture of pride shifts your posture towards us. Help us to not be fooled into thinking that we can be prideful and not experience adverse effects in our relationship with you. Convince us Lord, by the power of your Spirit, that pride pushes you away. Convince us. Convict us!

READINESS
Lead us not into the temptation of thinking we know best. Lead us not into the temptation of disregarding your will and your way. Deliver us from our ego. Deliver us from the naïveté that minimizes the impact of our pride on our relationship with you. Help us Lord. Help us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.