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Proverbs on Pride

September 23rd, 2011

Proverbs 16:18
This is one saying that always been apart of history:

  1. Cain’s pride led to him killing his brother Abel
  2. King Saul’s pride led to him attempting to kill David
  3. David lost his son Absalom to pride as Absalom attempted to overthrow David
  4. Hitler, Sadam Hasuane, on and on (even to the extent of pride leading to the shake up in God’s modern day kingdom)
NT Greek word for pride = “puffed up with pride”
  • This is a very descriptive word (like a peacock strutting his feathers)
  • The proud person puts on the mistaken belief that he is better than he is
Pride/arrogance begins in the heart (so often we say I’m prideful but take it to lightly)

Mark 7:20-22 - (arrogance/pride) is a reflection of the heart = don’t take it so lightly

Luke 1:50-52 - God scatters the thoughts of the proud (busy covering themselves & looks)

James 4:6 - Every time you say, “Ha-Ha, I know I’m prideful” realize “God’s apposing me”
  • Not so funny then
  • The proud man does not submit to God thus becomes God’s enemy
PRIDE

#1. Pride kills our relationship with God & others (Proverbs 16:5)
  • One reason the Bible is so adamant about pride is its effect on our view of God.
  • When we puff ourselves up with pride we begin to act as if we are God
  • Instead of being in the image of God we try to make God in our image
How?
  1. We make God into a national God = prospers our country only
  2. Watering down the Bible = suit our feelings
  3. When we act as if we are a special case = God will overlook our situation
  4. When we become depressed & discouraged (I’m just a failure) = God messed up

Ultimate example is Satan (Revelation 12:7-9, 13:4-9)
  • Satan wants to put thoughts in the minds and hearts of the saints to lead them astray
  • He really wants to come after the ministry staff that leads God’s people.
How?
  1. Have division and tension in your marriage (not a divorce just disunity)
  2. He wants your children (that’s one of the best ways he can hurt you)
  3. He wants you to be competitive & jealous of others
  4. He wants you to struggle with forgiving others
  5. He wants you to be focused only on your ministry & not the church (bigger picture)
How can he make that happen? Our pride. Hardest thing in the world is for us to be humble.
  1. We’re family, he wants it to be like Cain & Abel
  2. King Saul, Satan wants you to think you can lead better than others, nothing to learn from me, be a good follower
  3. Satan wants KC church divided from the Heartland & movement

Proverbs 13:10, Proverbs 18:11

Illustration:
  • I read that when a caterpillar exists in its lowly state it can get as close as it wants to other caterpillars.
  • They climb all over each other and share grounds selflessly.
  • But as soon as the caterpillar spreads its wings and takes flight, it can never again get close as it once did to other creatures.
  • The beauty of its wings is the very thing that prevents it from getting close.
  • When we puff ourselves up with pride, we cannot get close to people around us.
  • We beat our wings against theirs and we both are destroyed.

The most deadly attribute of pride in a relationship is selfishness.
  • It takes humility to have truly great relationships
  • When we are selfish we refuse to share what we have with others (time, possessions, self)
  • If we fail to share ourselves, then on one will really know us.
  • It is impossible to be really close to people and be selfish

#2. Pride kills self-esteem (Proverbs 26:12)
  • Pride blinds us to who we really are
  • We get a false image of ourselves and cling to that image instead of the truth
  • Underneath our arrogance and pride are feelings of self-loathing and extreme neediness
  • In order to overcome we puff ourselves up, we act as if we have it together
  • Unfortunately we only fool & hurt ourselves because others can see through it.
  • This shell of pride can also keep others away as we duck our heads back in (turtle)
  • As long as we stay in our shell we are prisoners of our own pride, destine to live a lonely life
HUMILITY

#1. Humility heals our relationship with God (Proverbs 3:34)
  • God honors humility
  • When we become humble we become more like God himself.
Philippians 2:8-11
  • God honors humility (this is the 1st step to having a relationship with God)
James 4:8-10
  • Humility isn’t a one time thing, we must continue to humble ourselves before God daily

#2. Humility heals our relationship with Others (Proverbs 6:3)

To heal a relationship someone must take the first step
  • Best example is in a marriage (someone has to start with “I’m sorry”)
  • Jesus said “blessed are the peacemakers” not “blessed is the one who wins the argument”
One purpose of a Christian relationship is to remove the pride from each other’s life (so we can get to heaven)

Colossians 1:28-29 - We must work to help each other be humble

#3. Humility heals our view of self (Proverbs 15:33) (Proverbs 22:4)

  • There is a world of difference between Godly confidence and pride.
  • The person who walks with Godly confidence walks tall because he knows he is a child of the king (he doesn’t act like he’s better than anyone else) (he doesn’t have to be in the know).
  • This was the meekness that people noticed in Jesus (controlled strength) confidence
We need to be confident of who we are, the valuable life we have found in Jesus.
  • People will be attracted to this type of confidence (not like the world)
Symptoms of Pride
  1. Unwillingness to admit mistakes: Do you apologize whole heartily? - Nearly all men can stand adversity, to test a man, give him power.
  2. Hating to look bad: Can you laugh at yourself?
  3. Attitude of entitlement: Are you used to privilege (expect because your on staff, you should be treated a certain way, do you serve a certain way because you are on staff)
Pride kills but humility heals: it’s not easy but we all have a great example to follow (Jesus).