Beware of Developing a Haughty Heart

“God opposes the haughty ones.”​—JAMES 4:6.

The Haughty versus The Humble

1. What important principle is stated at 2 Samuel 22:28, and how does it apply?

WHEN David had been delivered by Jehovah from all his enemies, including Saul, he composed a grand song of thanksgiving, using these words: “The humble people you will save; but your eyes are against the haughty ones, that you may bring them low.” (2 Sam. 22:28)

“Everyone that is proud in heart is something detestable to Jehovah. . . . pride is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.”—Prov. 16:5, 18.

Indeed, it is this very “time of the end” that would see an abundance of “lovers of themselves,” persons “haughty” and “puffed up with self-esteem.”—1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 3:1-4.

12, 13. (a) What discrimination does Jehovah exercise? (b) What persons are cherished by Jehovah?

¹² For an individual to have “lowliness of mind” means that he is not haughty, and this is a desirable quality.

¹³ In respect to the haughty and the lowly of mind, Jehovah exercises discrimination, his own Word stating: “For Jehovah is high, and yet the humble one he sees; but the lofty one he knows only from a distance.” (Ps. 138:6)

DO NOT LET YOUR HEART BECOME HAUGHTY

¹² The Bible does not tell us just what caused Hezekiah’s heart to become haughty.

The Bible says: “Better is one who is patient than one who is haughty in spirit.

Note that the patient person is here contrasted with the one who is haughty, proud.

“The humble people you will save; but your eyes are against the haughty ones.”​—2 Sam. 22:28.

In it we learn that “God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.” (Jas. 4:6)

“All of you gird yourselves with humility of mind toward one another, because God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.

“For though Jehovah is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; but the haughty he knoweth from afar.” (Ps. 138:6, AS)

“God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.”​—1 PETER 5:5.

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride.”​—2 Timothy 3:1-4.

Haughty Disregard for Jehovah

How are we to view a dedicated Christian who is haughty and disrespects Jehovah?

In the last days, men would be “self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers.”

Next comes “haughty,” or literally “superior-appearing.”

He “opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.” (James 4:6)

If we have been haughty at times, it would be wise to humble ourselves and pray for God’s forgiveness. (Compare 2 Chronicles 32:24-26.)

Moreover, Jehovah told that haughty Pharaoh: “In fact, for this cause I have kept you in existence, for the sake of showing you my power and in order to have my name declared in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16)

Reacting in rage and fury, the haughty monarch gave the three Hebrews another opportunity but with this ultimatum: “If you do not worship, at that same moment you will be thrown into the burning fiery furnace.

Reviling the pattern of the “pure language” that Jehovah has so graciously taught his people over the past century, these haughty ones try to draw the “sheep” away from the one international “flock” that Jesus has gathered in the earth. (John 10:7-10, 16)

“I shall remove from the midst of you your haughtily exultant ones; and you will never again be haughty in my holy mountain.”

But not only can it save you from suffering possible embarrassment before humans, it will save you from the adverse judgment of God, of whom it is said: “God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.” (Jas. 4:6; Luke 20:45-47)

But all of you gird yourselves with lowliness of mind toward one another, because God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.

A Haughty Spirit Is Before Stumbling

“PRIDE is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling,” are the words of the wisest king of ancient times.

5. Why are the haughty believing a falsehood, and why are they not happy?

⁵ The psalmist said: “How happy the man who hath made Yahweh [or, Jehovah] his confidence, who hath not turned unto the haughty, nor gone aside unto falsehood.” (Ps. 40:4, Ro)

When Miriam and Aaron became haughty toward Moses their brother, they were brought low; and today we can never become haughty if we realize our position before Jehovah, the Superior One.