First Commandment and Pride

Q. 45. Which is the first commandment? A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.[119] [119] Exodus 20:3 (KJV). Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3 (New International Version) "You shall have no other gods before me. Deuteronomy 5:7 (KJV). Thou shalt have none other gods before me. Deuteronomy 5:7 (New International Version) "You shall have no other gods before me. Q. 46. What is required in the first commandment? A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.[120] [120] 1 Chronicles 28:9 (KJV). And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. 1 Chronicles 28:9 (New International Version) "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever Isaiah 45:20-25 (KJV). Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. Isaiah 45:20-25 (New International Version) "Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. Declare what is to be, present it— let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD ? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.' " All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult. Matthew 4:10 (KJV). Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:10 (New International Version) Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment? A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying,[121] or not worshiping and glorifying, the true God as God,[122] and our God;[123] and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.[124] [121] Psalm 14:1 (KJV). The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. Psalm 14:1 (New International Version) The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. [122] Romans 1:20-21 (KJV). For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:20-21 (New International Version) For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. [123] Psalm 81:10-11 (KJV). I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. Psalm 81:10-11 (New International Version) I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. [124] Ezekiel 8:16-18 (KJV). And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. Ezekiel 8:16-18 (New International Version) He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east. He said to me, "Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the house of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually provoke me to anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose! 18 Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them." Romans 1:25 (KJV). Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Romans 1:25 (New International Version) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Q. 48. What are we specially taught by these words before me in the first commandment? A. These words before me in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.[125] [125] Deuteronomy 30:17-18 (KJV). But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. Deuteronomy 30:17-18 (New International Version) But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. Psalm 44:20-21 (KJV). If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Psalm 44:20-21(New International Version) If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? Ezekiel 8:12 (KJV). Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. Ezekiel 8:12 (New International Version) He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.' " Additional Verses: "David son of Jesse is a man after my own heart, for he will do everything I want him to do." Acts 13:22 & 1 Samuel 13:14 (NLT). Jeremiah 3:15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. Deuteronomy 4:23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Isaiah 42:8 "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.” Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." 2 Samuel 22:28 You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. 2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Psalm 18:27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 147:6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Matthew 18:4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Negative Verses: Deuteronomy 8:14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Psalm 10:4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Christian Quotes: ...the eyes of God will always be attentive to guard those who shall be attentive to his instructions. John Calvin The Lord will not save those he cannot command. A.W. Tozer Humility is the secret of fellowship, and pride the secret of division. Robert C. Chapman God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves. Dwight L. Moody Pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes. John Ruskin Pride consists in an unduly exalted opinion of one's self. It is, therefore, impatient of a rival, hates a superior, and cannot endure a master. Edward Payson When men stand high their heads do not grow dizzy till they look down; when men look down upon those that are worse than themselves, or less holy than themselves, then their heads turn round; looking up would cure this disease. The most holy men, when once they have fixed their eyes awhile upon God's holiness, and then looked upon themselves, have been quite out of love with themselves. William Gurnall Proud hearts breed proud looks and stiff knees. Charles Spurgeon Many ask good questions with a design rather to justify themselves than inform themselves, rather proudly to show what is good in them than humbly to see what is bad in them. Matthew Henry Pride is at the bottom of a great many errors and corruptions, and even of many evil practices, which have a great show and appearance of humility. Matthew Henry Pride meets covetousness, and compliments it as wise, thrifty, and prudent. Unknown Christ's definition of Beatitudes (Matthew 5) contradicts the world's standard of happiness. True happiness can only come from one source which is Jesus Christ. True happiness begins in my heart, mourning over sin which leads to meekness. From the attitude of meekness, I hunger and thirst for righteousness. Through Jesus Christ, I can receive God's mercy and righteousness that my heart will be pure. When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit came into my heart and cleansed my sins and purified my heart. Only God can provide happiness when I have Jesus Christ in my heart and only Jesus Christ can give me true happiness. Jim Beaton Jesus reserved his hardest words for the hidden sins of hypocrisy, pride, greed and legalism." Philip Yancey "Whatever makes us feel superior to other people, whatever tempts us to convey a sense of superiority, that is the gravity of our sinful nature, not grace." Phillip Yancey In Proverbs 21:2, "People may think they are doing what is right, but the Lord examines the heart." (NLT). Our flesh search for pleasure, pride, passions and selfish motives therefore God is looking for Christians who will worship and obey Him from their hearts, minds and bodies. Jim Beaton If I am seeking God for my own selfishness (self-interest), that is pride. Jim Beaton Romans 5:3-4 ".....I also rejoice in my sufferings, because I know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." I suffer to keep down pride (2 Cor. 12:7). A.W. Tozer’s Beatitudes Instead of poverty of spirit we find the rankest kind of pride; instead of mourners we find pleasure seekers; instead of meekness, arrogance; instead of hunger after righteousness we hear men saying, `I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing'; instead of mercy we find cruelty; instead of purity of heart, corrupt imaginings; instead of peacemakers we find men quarrelsome and resentful; instead of rejoicing in mistreatment we find them fighting back with every weapon at their command. Of this kind of moral stuff civilized society is composed.