Those who are full of pride and think they know everything never listen to anyone else.
One of the hallmarks of narcissists is their propensity to judge everything, even the smallest matters that are not sin but just different from what they would do.
This is what the devil did with God. He convinced Eve that God was doing something wrong by not allowing her to eat one fruit in a garden that was full of many different satisfying fruit she was allowed to eat. The focus of the devil was what she couldn't have not the need to be grateful for what she did have.
With narcissists if you have a flaw or trait they don't like then you are judged as all bad and treated with disrespect. If you have a trait they do like, then you are all good and treated with respect. As long as a person treats them as superior or special they are golden. Narcissists cannot see the whole person and accept the flaws with the good traits, they only see what they want to see and refuse to accept anyone who is not just like them, and in their mind, they are worthy of respect and honor.
The devil is behind the antics of the "know it alls" who can see five minutes of activity and judge an entire life based on their desired belief of the meaning of those five minutes.
Those who have very high opinions of themselves never listen to anything that is not praise of them. It is not praise we need, it is correction because life is full of flaws and mistakes that need setting right. Without correction and a proper attitude toward it there is no spiritual and emotional growth.
Those who face their own flaws, and evaluate them according to the Bible will grow in holiness. Those who only want to pretend they have no flaws and will not face their own demons will grow worse as they grow older. The longer they wait to repent the less likely they will ever repent.
It has been my personal experience that the hardest people to reach for Christ have been those who have been raised in the false modern system of "church." They have been made to feel special for being a Christian but have never been born again. They tend to camp on rules they make and misinterpret much of the Bible to fit their own idea of truth.
Those who have learned all the lingo within the church system and developed a high opinion of themselves are often arrogant and resistant to the gospel. They will hear it and claim they have salvation but there is no fruit of God's Spirit in their attitudes. There is no love for one another, just continual competition to be superior.
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law."
When Christ changes us into a new creation it is in response to our realization that we are wicked and need to be saved from that sinfulness, and that Christ is the only way. He changes us when we want to be changed by Him. He will not change someone who thinks they can change themselves and pretend to be good in their own effort.
The easiest people for me to converse with have been those who had never heard the gospel and were interested and fascinated by it. The didn't necessarily accept it but they were not hostile as so many "churchgoers" have been because they came thinking they were adding something to Christ, as though their decision was what got them to heaven, without any desire for Christ to change them.
There can be no salvation when a person hangs onto pride and arrogance to feel superior. Salvation comes from admitting our sinful nature and that we are unable to save ourselves. Christ paid the debt for our sin on the cross, and then rose from the dead, no man can do that for himself.
God hates pride; we must learn to hate what God hates and to love what God loves. How much do you hate pride?
Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech.”
Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Proverbs 16:5 “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
James 4:6 “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””
1 Peter 5:5 “Young men, in the same way, be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'”
Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””
Let's remember when someone has rejected Christ and us because we belong to Christ, then we are instructed to walk away and leave them to God. Remaining with them will only mean conflict on their part and ultimately ruin our own walk with Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:17
"17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you."
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