Documents
Documents about different biblical subjects
Proverbs on Pride
September 23rd, 2011Proverbs 16:18
This is one saying that always been apart of history:
- Cain’s pride led to him killing his brother Abel
- King Saul’s pride led to him attempting to kill David
- David lost his son Absalom to pride as Absalom attempted to overthrow David
- 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?
- We make God into a national God = prospers our country only
- Watering down the Bible = suit our feelings
- When we act as if we are a special case = God will overlook our situation
- 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?
- Have division and tension in your marriage (not a divorce just disunity)
- He wants your children (that’s one of the best ways he can hurt you)
- He wants you to be competitive & jealous of others
- He wants you to struggle with forgiving others
- 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.
- We’re family, he wants it to be like Cain & Abel
- King Saul, Satan wants you to think you can lead better than others, nothing to learn from me, be a good follower
- 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
- Unwillingness to admit mistakes: Do you apologize whole heartily? - Nearly all men can stand adversity, to test a man, give him power.
- Hating to look bad: Can you laugh at yourself?
- 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).