How can we guard against pride as described in Job 20:6? Job 20:6—The Warning in a Single Verse “Though his loftiness reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,” What Pride Looks Like in Job 20:6 • Self-elevation to “the heavens”—an inflated view of self • A head “touching the clouds”—self-reliance, forgetting dependence on God • Implication: the higher one lifts himself, the farther the inevitable fall (Job 20:7) God’s Unchanging View of Pride • Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” • James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” • Isaiah 14:13-15: Lucifer’s “I will ascend…,” ending in being “brought down to Sheol.” Why We Must Guard Our Hearts • Pride denies God’s rightful glory (Isaiah 42:8) • It breeds contempt for others (Luke 18:11-14) • It invites God’s active opposition (1 Peter 5:5-6) • Pride blinds us to sin, blocking repentance (Revelation 3:17) Practical Guards Against Pride 1. Daily remind yourself of God’s greatness – Psalm 8:3-4 keeps perspective: “What is man that You are mindful of him…?” 2. Choose lowliness in service – Philippians 2:3-4: “In humility consider others more important than yourselves.” 3. Embrace accountability – Proverbs 27:6: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Invite honest correction. 4. Practice gratitude – 1 Corinthians 4:7: “What do you have that you did not receive?” Thanksgiving kills entitlement. 5. Remember past warnings – Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16); Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30-37) illustrate the crash that follows pride. 6. Keep short accounts with God – Regular confession (1 John 1:9) dismantles pride’s defenses. 7. Serve in hidden ways – Matthew 6:3-4: secrecy in giving and deeds shifts glory back to God. 8. Meditate on Christ’s humility – Philippians 2:5-8: the ultimate model—“He humbled Himself…” 9. Cultivate a contented spirit – Psalm 131:1-2: “My heart is not proud… I have calmed and quieted my soul.” 10. Speak less, listen more – Proverbs 10:19: fewer words leave less room for self-exaltation. Daily Self-Check Statements • “Anything good in me is God’s gift.” • “My value is received, not achieved.” • “I am a steward, not an owner.” • “How will this action point others to Christ, not to me?” Living Job 20:6 in Reverse Instead of heads in the clouds, keep knees on the ground. Instead of self-loftiness, bow low before the Lord who “raises the humble” (Psalm 147:6). Guarded by these practices, we trade the fleeting heights of pride for the lasting joy of God-given honor. |
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