“Actively Rejecting Prideful Attitudes”
Prov. 3:12; 8:13; 16:6, 18; Jam. 4:6
SUBJECT: CORRECTIONS ADVERSITY COMPELS US TO MAKE
THEME: Clearly God desires that we humble ourselves to his will. When troubles come, examine your heart for prideful attitudes and correct them to continue spiritual growth.
RELEVANCY: Nothing compels us to make spiritual changes like troubles. Understanding God’s design to develop and transform us encourages us to respond favorably toward our troubles. When we become complacent, the Lord may permit troubles to come our way to jostle us forward in our spiritual walk. God doesn't only seek to get our attention; He also compels all of us to engage in periodic self-examination so we may face up to our own sin and the smudges on the heart that we acquire during our lives.
MESSAGE:
TROUBLE COMPELS
US TO CORRECT OUR ATTITUDE OF PRIDE
James 4:6, But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Have you ever wondered why it is that we sometimes end up in some of the most embarrassing and humiliating difficulties?
A. GOD RESISTS OUR PRIDEFUL BEHAVIOR.
B. GOD REALLY DOES HATE HUMAN PRIDE.
C. WHY DOES GOD
HATE PRIDE SO MUCH?
Proverbs 8:13, The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
The answer to this question is in this verse and several similar passages. Here we see true wisdom and reverence for God as a deep, active rejection of wickedness. True reverence requires a complete rejection of destructive behaviors, corrupt speech, and pride. You see loving God means hating the things that go against His righteous character. This idea is divided into two main parts:
Deep Respect for God, “The
Fear of the LORD”:
·
“The fear of the LORD”: This is a connection between spiritual reverence and moral
action. It is not a paralyzing fear of God, but a profound, loving respect that
requires us to actively despise sin. We cannot truly revere God while
entertaining or excusing evil.
·
True wisdom requires
aligning our hearts with God’s, which means having a deep, reverential respect
for Him that naturally results in an active rejection of sin.
· This is not terror or cowering in fright. It is an attitude of profound awe, honor, and loving obedience toward God. When you value God above all else, you naturally adopt His perspective.
Hating Evil is the Real Nature of Wisdom (and God), “To Hate Evil”:
There are four negative behaviors that are completely
opposed to divine wisdom:
·
“Pride”: Having an exaggerated sense of self-worth or an attitude
of superiority. Elevating
oneself above others or acting as our own ultimate authority.
·
“Arrogancy”: The outward expression of pride, where a person exalts
themselves above others and rebels against God's authority.
·
“The evil way”: Refers to a lifestyle or habitual path of choosing sin,
corruption, and unrighteousness. Boasting or taking credit for what belongs to God. Actions,
habits, and lifestyles that cause harm and violate God’s moral standards.
· “The froward mouth”: “Froward” (or perverse) describes speech that is twisted, deceitful, rebellious, or meant to corrupt others. This is destructive language that harms others and distorts the truth.
Prov 8:13 warns us that true godliness is not all positive. The teaching that sin is hateful is a wonderful and vital truth. In ancient times, as now, only the Biblical revelation stressed this truth.[a]
Ultimately, we have a moral compass, emphasizing that a life of wisdom requires not just avoiding bad actions, but developing a true inward disgust for the attitudes (like pride) that lead to them. All who truly reverence the Lord share in His holy hatred and utter rejection of prideful behaviors. I really do not understand how supposed believers recall their sinful life prior to conversion with such glee and delight instead of hatred and shame! Perhaps they never really grew in their “fear of the Lord.” Several other verses across scripture echo and parallel these themes:
Proverbs 16:6, By
mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart
from evil.
Psalm 97:10, Ye
that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he
delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
(Also see Psalm 119:104).
Proverbs 16:18, Pride
goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 11:2, When
pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
James 4:6, But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Beloved, we cannot help but be impressed with the strength and force of these statements. These ideas are supported by the character and nature of God—they are that type of strong and uncompromising. Who could possibly have something to brag about in the presence of God? To love Him is to love what He loves and reject what He fervently rejects. Who would be so bold as to place themselves or their opinions on the same level with God’s? It is incredible to contemplate, but some folks are that arrogant!
So, why does God hate “Pride” so much?
1.
Because Pride Makes Us Useless to God.
James 4:6, But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
The disgrace cast upon the proud: God resists them; the original word, antitassetai, signifies, God’s setting himself as in battle array against them; and can there be a greater disgrace than for God to proclaim a man a rebel, an enemy, a traitor to his crown and dignity, and to proceed against him as such? The proud resists God; in his understanding he resists the truths of God; in his will he resists the truths of God; in his will he resists the laws of God; in his passions he resists the providence of God; and therefore no wonder that God sets himself against the proud. Let proud spirits hear this and tremble—God resists them. Who can describe the wretched state of those who make God their enemy?[b]
Because it is the one sin that keeps us from allowing God to use us for His purposes. When we are committed to doing things our way, we cannot do things God's way. Pride renders us useless in the kingdom of God. We must always remember that God does not exist for us; we exist for Him.
2. Because The Lord Will Not Share His
Glory with Anyone.
Isaiah 42:8, I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isaiah was affirming that God, unlike idols, can tell the future. And this divine ability adds to His glory (v. 8).[c]
God will not share His glory with another, and least of all with carved images. His past predictions have come to pass, and now He reveals the future once more.[d]
We can safely apply this thought to ourselves emphasizing the truth that all glory correctly belongs to God and not mere people.
A.
We Often Seek to Take the Glory for Ourselves.
Sometimes we say, in effect, “Look at what I have accomplished! Look at me! Look at who I am!”—we deny that anything we accomplish comes about because God both enables and empowers us to accomplish it (Luke 12:13–21). Consider the following observations.
1. God Alone Is to Be Glorified in the
Salvation of Sinners.
Romans 16:26-27, But now is made manifest, and by the
scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, made
known to all nations for the obedience of faith: [27] To God only wise, be glory through Jesus
Christ for ever. Amen.
Evangelism, missions program, church numerical growth, property size or purchases, and baptisms can become points of bragging and stealing the glory that rightfully belongs to the Lord. Be careful here, because our fruitfulness will be hindered if we seek our own glory and not the glory of the Lord!
2. God Alone Is to
Be Glorified in the Strength of the Churches.
Ephes. 3:21, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Doctrinal soundness, dedicated living, focused servants, sacrificial saints, discipleship programs, holy living, loving congregations, selfless members, and united in fellowship and ministry– these are all desirable traits in a church, but we run the risk of losing it all if we allow pride to invade our church family (Gal. 5:25-26). We should be thankful giving glory to God and not bragging on ourselves concerning these matters.
3. God Alone is
to Be Glorified in the Service of the Saints.
1 Peter 4:10-11, As every
man hath received the gift, even
so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace
of God. [11] If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man
minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:
that God in all things may be
glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and
ever. Amen.
Pastoring, preaching, Sunday school teaching, giving, hospitality, children’s church workers, nursery ministry, trustee work, deacon ministries, ushering, piano playing, song leading, choir, special music, ect.
God greatly humbled me when I preached my second sermon and literally stuttered through the entire message. I was allotted about 10 minutes in that service. I did decently with the first message, but the second one was a total mess…a tremendously embarrassing failure. Why was I so humiliated? Basically, because I was preaching to ‘feed my pride.’ I stuttered, mis-quoted scripture, mis-stated concepts, and misrepresented easy Bible ideas…. I was awful that evening! I was so humiliated that I needed a tall step ladder to reach up to scratch a snake’s belly. I wish I could say one lesson in ‘pride’ was enough to get my attention and cooperation…. I sometimes still wish that!
B.
We Sometimes Act as Though Our Wisdom is as Good as God’s.
Isaiah 55:7-9, Let the
wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and
let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon. [8] For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. [9] For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than
your thoughts.
Proverbs 16:25, There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Sometimes we say:
1. “I know what the Bible teaches
but, I don’t think that God really understands the different needs of people
today.”
2. “In my opinion we have
to do what we feel is right in our hearts and situation.”
3. “I don’t think we
should strictly apply the Bible to our lives today, because modern science and
psychology seem to offer people real answers and real help.”
4. Some may say the same things but a little differently, for instance, “I don’t want any preacher telling me how to live my life.”
In essence we are rejecting God’s authority in our lives–His Word! Psalm
119:9, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. In our arrogance we literally deny that the Word of God is all sufficient for matters of salvation,
fighting sin, and sanctification or Christian living. We practically place
human wisdom on the same plan as Divine Wisdom expressed in the Word of God. That
is pure arrogance! God’s thoughts are higher than ours!
2 Peter 1:2-4, Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, [3] According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: [4] Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Amen.
C.
No Human Being Will Have Anything to Brag About Before Our Great God!
1 Cor. 1:26-31, For ye see your calling, brethren, how that
not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called: [27] But God hath
chosen the foolish things of the
world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
[28] And base things of the world,
and things which are despised, hath
God chosen, yea, and things which are
not, to bring to nought things that are: [29] That no flesh should glory in his presence. [30] But of him
are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
[31] That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord.
2 Peter 3:18, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.
Any good in us is by His design and redemption. Anything noteworthy that we become, we become because He wills it so. We have no goodness apart from God's goodness imparted to us. Even in our salvation God used a weak and despised thing like ‘preaching the cross’ to save us sinners. Surely not a point for bragging on our behalf, but certainly an elaborate expression of the great grace and power of God!
3. Because Pride Brings About
Destruction.
A Bible verse that most people know is Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
A. Not All Destructions Are Caused by Pride, but Pride Always Ends in Destruction. Usually, we lose the very thing we are most proud of having achieved, earned, owned, or accomplished.
B.
Having Pride Is:
1. Having Too High an Opinion about Ourselves in
Relation to God.
2. Taking Credit That Belongs to God.
3. Having a “Haughty Spirit” Is Having Too High an Opinion of Ourselves in Relation to Other People and Taking Credit That Rightfully Belongs to Others. Both attitudes bring about negative consequences, adversity, and trouble!
C.
When Troubles Come, it Just May Be the Result of our Prideful Behavior.
If so, the Lord permits that adversity to point out our pride and to encourage us to humble ourselves before Him (and perhaps before other people) and to submit to His will.
This certainly has been my experience. I once owned a beautiful 1986 red Fire Bird with T-Tops with an out of this world booming stereo system. To say the obvious simply, it was ‘my pride and joy’! I washed, waxed, vacuumed, and detailed it religiously. It was one of the sharpest and hottest cars on that entire military installation at the time. My car was not necessarily super-fast, but it looked great…at least I thought so. I didn’t look bad driving it either! I recall cruising during vacation in Washington, D.C. in 1989, and I mistakenly crashed into another driver in an intersection. Praise the Lord, the other driver made it through that ordeal, but the crash took out my front quarter panel on my car. My beautiful car was mutilated on the front left! Well, upon returning home I had it repaired, but the car was never the same again. I have never been the same again either, I haven’t owned a nice sports car since that day. And I have refused to derive my identity and meaning in life from the vehicle I drive. I learned the hard way that ‘pride’ leads to destruction, but such lessons were repeated many times over the course of my life.
D. How Does Pride Bring Destruction into Our Lives?
1. Pride
Lures Us into Living Independently of God (Ps
10:11).
Psalm 10:11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
There is an incompatibility between blind arrogance and the presence of God in our heart. The proud person depends on himself or herself rather than on God. This causes God's guiding influences to leave. When God's presence is welcome, there is no room for pride, because he makes us aware of our true self.
2. Pride
Undermines Our Faith (Mark 6:5).
Mark 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he
laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
Jesus could have done greater miracles in Nazareth, but he chose not to because of the people's pride and unbelief. The miracles he did had little effect on the people because they did not accept his message or believe that he was from God. Therefore, Jesus looked elsewhere, seeking those who would respond to his miracles and message.
3. Pride Can Cut Us off from God and Others (Luke 18:14).
The Pharisee in Jesus' parable did not go to the temple to pray to God but to announce to all within earshot how good he was. The tax collector went recognizing his sin and begging for mercy. Self-righteousness is dangerous. It leads to pride, causes a person to despise others, and prevents him or her from learning anything from God. The tax collector's prayer should be our prayer because we all need God's mercy every day.
Beloved, please don't let pride in your achievements or status cut you off from God. Luke 18:14, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
4. Pride
Distorts Our View of Ourselves and Others (Eph
2:14).
Ephes. 2:14, For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and
hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Jews and Gentiles alike could be guilty of spiritual pride—Jews for thinking their faith and traditions elevated them above everyone else, Gentiles for trusting in their achievements, power, or position. Spiritual pride blinds us to our own faults and magnifies the faults of others. Be careful not to become proud of your salvation, ministry, position, converts, or influence. Instead, humbly thank God for what he has done, and encourage others who might be struggling in their faith.
CONCLUSION:
Realizing God has a desire to correct our attitudes of pride should focus our self-examinations and identify some changes we need to make.
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase,
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.—Annie Johnson Flint[e]
Are you a long way from the path of righteousness? Are you dealing with embarrassing and shameful troubles? Are you walking in a healthy fear of the Lord? Do you reject pride and arrogance much like God does? Do you view yourself as superior to others? Why is that the case? Do you have the final say with your experiences? Are there strengths you have not surrendered to God and His will?
We must continue making advances and growing in the Lord. Again,
trouble is God’s tool to encourage us to examine ourselves and keep moving
forward. For most of us progress includes choosing humility to replace our
pride.
[a]
Charles F. Pfeiffer, The Wycliffe Bible
Commentary: Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), Pr 8:8.
[b]
Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s
Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume
(Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2416.
[c] John
A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The
Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F.
Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1096.
[d]
William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible
Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 969.
[e]
William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible
Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2237.
