The WORD, July 6, 2025 (Publication of Journalists for Christ International Outreach)
There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 6: 16-19
What does it mean to have a proud look or haughty eyes, as other versions of the Bible put it?
To be proud, according to the Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, is to have too high an opinion of oneself or false ideas of one’s importance, while haughty is appearing proud: showing that other people are thought of as of less importance than oneself.
Do you know any journalist who fits the above description? You probably do, or the definitions fit you.
This is what the Bible says about pride: ‘God resists the proud’ (James 4:6); ‘The Lord shall cut off […] the tongue that speaketh proud things’ (Psalm 12:3).
By God’s grace, you can be a top-flight journalist, a multiple award-winning journalist or a media manager or owner. This is not an excuse to have too high opinion of yourself by looking down on your colleagues, juniors, contemporaries, associates, seniors and workers.
There is no problem with having a high opinion of yourself based on your accomplishments, but when it is too high, you have crossed the line into pride. You must learn to respect other people’s views or approach instead of behaving as if you have the monopoly of knowledge required on any issue.
“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all those who humbled themselves shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11)
Nowadays, we have celebrity journalists, On-Air Personalities (OAP) and others who behave as if they are bigger than the platforms they work for or the work they are doing and can’t be called to order.
It’s pride to refuse to be corrected, either by your employers, superiors, colleagues, juniors, associates or the public. You could sometimes be wrong, and you must be humble enough to admit it.
James 4:10 states that we should humble ourselves before the Lord (and in whatever we do), and he will lift us up.
A word of caution from Proverbs 16 5: ‘Everyone that is proud in heart (even when you do not show it) is an abomination to the Lord: though hands join in hand, he shall not go unpunished.’
We must consciously avoid having disdain for others due to the positions we hold, the opportunities we have and the influence we wield.
Ask God to clothe you with humility and teach you to see others as He sees them and to honour every assignment, every person we work with, and every opportunity with reverence and grace.
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