Minding Your Thoughts
A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life
Daniel 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
In this verse Daniel is speaking to Belshazzar about his father Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar suffered from the sin of pride, as did his son. On this very night, Belshazzar would be slain and Babylon would finally be overthrown. Pride. Pride is the prince of sins. The mind has a large part to play in the sin of pride. It’s interesting however that this is the only verse that ties the words mind and pride together. Proverbs 29:23 states: A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit, and Proverbs 16:18 states: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride was Nebuchadnezzar’s great problem, it was also Belshazzar’s problem, it was also the problem of Joseph’s brothers (pride is why they hated him), and it is a very real problem today. In the list of the six things that the Lord hates A proud look… is first on the list (Proverbs 6:17). As a pastor, as a businessman, as a father, and as a student of human nature, it has been my misfortune to see individuals do some horrible things to others, and make terrible decisions in life, simply out of pride. Most of which were actions targeted toward someone else because of imagined wrongdoings that bruised their pride. When pride attempts to make an appearance, be strong enough in your own will to stop and ask yourself, “Is my mind hardened by pride?” An honest answer to that question may save you from the awful results of the sin of pride. I saw a title one time for a pastor that was printed on the side of a church bus that said: “The most humble Dr. Reverend, Pastor so and so.” Sorry, if the word humble is in a title, they probably aren’t. Be careful, be watchful, because oftentimes extreme pride is cloaked with the robe of humility.
A mind hardened by pride is clearly identifiable. Psalm 10:4 relates all one needs to know about spotting pride. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. The first indication of pride is a person’s belief that they do not need God in their life decisions. If any person chooses any path of action based upon their own thinking without any consideration of the Almighty, pride has made an appearance. For if a person would seek God and His leadership, they will 1) consider the Scriptures, 2) pray and ask for God to reveal His will about the matter, 3) seek good counsel, and 4) think the matter through. These four actions will drive away pride in the mind.
Pride is like the needle on a compass; it always points north. Likewise pride always points to self. Samuel Johnson, a 17th century English statesman is quoted as saying, “Pride is a vice, which pride itself inclines every man to find in others and overlook in himself.” As pride starts in the mind it invades every part of a person to serve one purpose: the protection and promotion of self. Beware of it at all cost, for pride of mind seldom renders good decisions. But, yielding to the Lord, that is always the safe path and right path.
May the Lord Bless and be pleased with your thought life today.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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