PRIDE

Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Note: In the Biblical sense, pride refers to offensive characteristics. It implies an unduly favorable idea of oneself (abilities, advantages, achievements, etc.). Pride is a lofty, arrogant assumption of superiority in some respect. Some synonyms for pride are: conceit, egotism, and vanity. Conceit implies an exaggerated estimate of one's own abilities or attainments. Egotism implies an excessive preoccupation with oneself or with one's own concerns. Vanity implies self-admiration, self-glorification and an excessive desire to be admired by others.

Proverbs 13:10        Only by pride comes contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. (KJV)

Proverbs 16:18        Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

1 Peter 5:5      Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Note: The humble are teachable and open to correction and instruction. The humble focus on a high opinion of God…which is worship.

Proverbs 3:7    Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Note: Those “wise in their own eyes” are not teachable and will not receive guidance. The proud focus on a high opinion of self.

Proverbs 26:12        Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

1 Corinthians 8:2      If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

Galatians 6:3    For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (KJV) Note: “Vain glory” implies an empty or unjustified lifting up of oneself. In order to promote their self-image, the proud look critically on others (but not themselves).

Philippians 2:3  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

1 Corinthians 4:7     For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Psalms 131:1   O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. Note: The antonym for pride is humility. Humility can be seen as a system of thought. Jesus said, “I am meek and lowly in heart (mind).” To be “lowly in mind” before God is (1) acknowledging God and His Word as the authority in our lives, (2) knowing that God is the source of anything we have had, do have, or ever will have, (3) knowing that we must rely upon God’s grace in order to accomplish actual (or divine) good, (4) knowing that our own energies and understandings are faulty and insufficient to sustain us in this life, (5) entering into rest like a confident and quieted child, (6) casting down fearful imaginations and every thought that would exalt itself (distract us, hide the truth) against the knowledge of God (learning the truth).

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. Note: A proud man compares himself to others (a low standard) and comes to false and dangerous conclusions. A humble man compares himself to God (a high standard) and concludes there is much room for learning and progress.

ANGER

Proverbs 14:29      Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Note: Understanding that God is sovereign over all persons and events, we know that everything we experience works for our good. With this knowledge we look to God for resolution instead of rushing to judgment and action based on our faulty and emotional perceptions. We also understand that God is working in the lives of those with whom we may have conflicts.

Proverbs 16:32      Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 25:28        A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Proverbs 19:11        Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Note: The word used for “glory” can mean beauty or honor.

Ecclesiastes 7:9       Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

James 1:19-20 Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Psalms 37:8     Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

our mouths

Proverbs 21:23        Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Ecclesiastes 5:2      Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

Ecclesiastes 10:12   The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

Proverbs 10:19        When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. Note: The wise have learned to wait, watch and trust in the God who works within us to bring us to perfection. However, our sinful inclination is to use our words to hide our errors, to excuse ourselves, or to distort the truth.

Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 17:9  Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. Note: Gossip violates God’s commands on many levels.

Proverbs 17:27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Matthew 15:11 It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.

Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

James 3:5, 8    So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Colossians 4:6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Psalms 141:3         Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!