Text: Proverbs 8:13 says “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
PRIDE is taking the glory that belong to God alone. The world PRIDE looks simple but it is a route to self destructions. Pride makes us self centred and lead us to conclude we deserve all we can see, touch or imagine. It creates greedy appetite for more than we need.
Proverbs 16:18 says “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Prideful people take little account of their weakness and do not anticipate stumbling blocks. Ironically, proud people seldom realize their pride is their problem. Pride is the opposite of humility.
Pride has kept many people away from accepting JESUS CHRIST as SAVIOUR. Admitting sin and acknowledging the fact that in our own strength we can do nothing to inherit eternal life, is a constant stumbling block to the proud.
WHY IS PRIDE A SIN?
1. It takes the place of God in ones life. You assume your success is by your own efforts.
2. It compete with the glory of God.
3. It hinders one from seeing things from God’s will.
4. It makes one an enemy of God.
5. It makes one arrogant.
6. Pride is flesh.
We must know that our success, goals, wealth, experiences etc would not have been possible if not for the grace of God.
THE LORD IS GOOD.
Some of us pride in our material possessions, wealth, estate, cars, spouse, educational qualifications etc. In Matthew 19:16–23, a rich man asked Jesus what he would do to inherit eternal life and Jesus answered him, “go and sell your possessions, give to the poor and follow Him.” Upon hearing that he became sad and went away in sorrow because he had great possessions. Money represented his pride. He couldn’t afford to let go of it not even for Jesus sake.
PRAISE THE LORD
WORDS OF A PROUD MAN
1. Do you know who I am.
2. Who do you think that you are.
3. Don’t try me.
4. I will deal with you.
5. I am better than you.
6. You are not my class
7. Over my dead body.
8. I can’t take it..
9. I can never beg you.
10. By the time I finish with you.
Prideful people talk and act like they are gods.
They see themselves as better than others and like to ascribe glory to themselves. A Prideful person will say I did it, it is my effort. While a humble person will say, God did it for me. I give God the glory. Etc. Pride likes to show off. He wants you to notice his new car, new house, new wrist watch, new dress etc. It is important we know that power, wisdom, success and achievement comes from God.
PRIDEFUL ERRORS
1. Unbelief: In Mark 6: 3–7 Jesus could have done many miracles in Nazareth but He chose not to because of the people’s pride and Unbelief.
2. Arrogance: In Genesis 4:3–9 When God asked Cain about Abel his brother. Pride and arrogance made Cain to question God by answering Him, am I my brother’s keeper? The pride in him blinded his eyes to the killing of his brother, Abel.
3. Pride goes before a fall: In Genesis 3:10–11. Adam taught he could execuse himself from the punishment of the sin he committed with Eve by telling God the woman who thou gavest to be with me gave me of the tree and I did eat”. Justification is one of the signs of pride.
If you humble yourself before God, He will definitely lift you up but if we exalt ourselves demotion becomes our lot. We must prayerfully guide against it.
EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE PRIDE BROUGHT DOWN
1. Lucifer who was the number one angel in heaven was demoted because of pride, to Satan the devil.
2. Pride exited Queen Vashti in the book of Esther out of her reputable throne of honour, and humility paved way for Esther to be crowned as a queen.
3. Pride almost cost Namaan the opportunity of being healed of leprosy. 2 King’s 5: 10–14
4. Herod couldn’t stand the fact that Jesus would be a king. Out of pride and rage he ordered for the massacre of children from two years below.
5. King Saul lost his throne because of pride and disobedience.
6. Pride demoted King Nebuchadnezzar to an animal wandering in the Bush for seven years.
7. Pride made the pharisees to kill Jesus. They could not stand Jesus fame and popularity.
8. The pride in John the baptist led to his Unbelief and questioning of Jesus works.
CONSEQUENCES OF PRIDE
1. It brings demotion
2. Pride hates correction
3. Inferiority complex
4. It is rebellious
5. Disobedient
6. It causes destruction.
7. It causes rivalry.
8. Snobbish by nature.
To overcome pride, we must be humble and down to earth. We must believe that whatever we have and is today, is by the grace of God and not by our own efforts.
MAY GOD GIVE US THE POWER TO OVERCOME PRIDE IN OUR LIVES IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.