25 ¶ He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
Fat, depending on the context in which the word is used, often (but not always) represents bounty, success, and an abundance of blessings. Historically, human beings lived between times of feast and famine. A person who was fat certainly had no lack.
Genesis 45:18 And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.
Genesis 49:20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
Psalm 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
The proud heart, the arrogant, self-worshipping fool, whether he be unbeliever or Christian, stirs up conflict as he or she always places himself above everyone else. They are self centered and gloating, always thinking of themselves as above reproach, or THE manly one, or THE godly woman.
The proud heart looks with contempt at all that are around him, cannot permit contradiction or competition, and creates disturbance to everyone and to himself. His family becomes a train wreck and his life a misery for himself and others. The proud heart trusts in himself only. But the one who trusts in the Lord shall be made abundant and bountiful in blessings.
One of the many sins that are listed in the first chapter of Romans as being the result of man worshipping the creature rather than the Creator is pride.
Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
In the last days, in the church itself according to the context, this will become and has become an issue.
2Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Christians are to put their trust in the Lord, not in themselves. The philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s self reliance, not dependent upon anyone, of being your own person without caring one whit what others think or care about, Ayn Rand’s religion of self, of going your own way, Thoreau’s marching to the beat of a different drummer, etc. etc. are not Christian, but are pagan idolatry. We are to depend on the Lord, His words are to be our final authority in all matters of faith, practice, and doctrine. We depend on each other and live in a Christian community of believers who are accountable to each other as well. If you are proud and haughty of heart don’t expect to be blessed by God. Your lot will always be strife, contention, and frustration.
1Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
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