The opposite of humanity is pride, which is condemned in the scriptures. To be prideful means to put greater trust in oneself than in God or in His servants. It also means to put the things of the world above the things of God.
How Can I Recognize Pride in Myself?
1 Nephi 15:7-11
7 And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.
8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?
9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.
10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?
11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.
If we harden our hearts and do not look to the Lord, then we will struggle to understand spiritual truth. If we do not harden our hearts and we ask the Lord in faith and keep His commandments, then we will receive answers, understanding, greater revelation and guidance from Him.
1 Nephi 16:1-3
1 And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear.
2 And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.
3 And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us.
Declare truth is an effort to help us turn our hearts to God. Those who offend the Spirit through wickedness often take offense when given inspired correction or chastisement.
2 Timothy 3:1-4
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Some of the perils or full of danger or risk Paul said Timothy and we would experience or witness in our lives. All these characteristics are derived from being prideful.
Proverbs 13:10
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Proverbs 15:10
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Proverbs 28:25
25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.
Prideful people take honour to themselves rather than giving God the glory. Pride is competitive; those who are prideful seek to have more and presume they are better than other people. Pride usually results in feelings of anger and hatred, and it is a great stumbling block.
The Gospel Media credit to https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment