What About Pride?..Well, It's Not What YOU Think It Is!

Over the past 47 years about nine million college freshman have taken the American Freshman Survey. It asks students to rate how they measure up against their peers. According to the survey, over the past four decades, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of freshman who think that they're "above average" for academic ability and self-confidence.

For instance, while students think they're more gifted than their peers at writing, objective test scores actually show that writing skills have declined in the past few decades. Researchers call this "ambition inflation."

One of the researchers, Dr. Jean Twenge notes, "Our culture used to encourage modesty and humility and not bragging about yourself. It was considered a bad thing to be seen as conceited or full of yourself." Apparently, now everyone wants to be above average. -The Daily Mail, January 5, 2013

Charles Spurgeon once said, "There is nothing into which the heart of man so easily falls as pride, and yet there is no vice which is more frequently, more emphatically, and more eloquently condemned in Scripture." 

Many times, we start our Christian walk well. Our focus is set on God, and our hearts are fully committed to Him. Then all of a sudden, pride creeps in, preventing us from being all God wants us to be by blinding us to His ways. It tempts us to believe that we know better than He does. And, if we let it, pride will change our attitude toward God and the path He has chosen for us to take.

You might recall that the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law were proud men. And because they were proud men they expected to be honored by position and power that came from being at the head of the line. Jesus was never impressed by these men, and He picked on them every chance He got - because they were proud men. As James says “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” James 4:6.

The word translated “pride” in the Old Testament means “to rise or to swell up.”  It refers to the rising of the waves of the sea. It speaks of men thinking more of themselves and their abilities than they do of God. Pride says, “I do not need God, I can make my own way. I know best. I call the shots in my life.” (Sound familiar??)

What are some problems and dangers of pride? How about the following... 

1. Pride Is A Motivator For Other Sins…

a. The first sin committed on the earth was due to pride (Genesis 3:5-6 cf 1 John 2:15-16)…
b. Pride was also the motivator for the first murder (1 John 3:12)…
c. Note the words spoken regarding Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49)…

2. Pride Makes Us Oblivious To Danger…

a. We cannot see the stumbling blocks set before us (Proverbs 16:18)…
b. We cant see the ground with our noses in the air!

3. Pride Makes Us Blind…

a. Spiritual blindness causes us to reject Jesus (John 9:35-41)...
b. There can’t be any acceptable relationship between God and the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)
c. Look at the Pharisees (Luke 18:9-14)…
d. Christians must understand that we are saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-10).

4. Pride Makes Us Foolish…

a. Prides gives men a foolish sense of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 1 Corinthians 3:18-20)…
b. Pride causes us to think foolishly (Romans 12:3; Proverbs 12:15)…
c. Pride causes us to act foolishly (1 Kings 12:3-16)…

5. Pride Cause Us To Be Independent…

a. Pride causes us to not seek counsel (1 Corinthians 8:1-2)…
b. False teachers are proud not knowing anything (1 Timothy 6:4; Proverbs 21:24)...
c. It prevents us from learning anything (John 9:35-41)…
d. We cannot trust in our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-8)…
e. God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:9), therefore to please Him we are in need on His counsel, the very thing the proud reject (Psalm 107:10-12)…

6. Pride Condemns Us To Hell

a. (Romans 1:28-31)...
b. (Isaiah 2:11-17)...

By now, it should be quite obvious that God hates pride! (Proverbs 6:16-19). Each sin mentioned in that list is a result of pride!  Here is God’s Word on pride: Proverbs 8:13; 11:2; 16:5; 18-19. God has a better plan!  He calls on His people to “humble themselves”. The word “humble” means “to bend the knee; to bring down; to place self under another.”  Pride will not allow the prideful person to bow their knee to the Lord!

In closing, there is nothing good said about pride because there’s nothing good about it. We must keep away from having it and refrain from displaying it at any price!

Let's pray... 

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I realize that as a believer, my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. My acknowledgment of His presence on a daily basis makes my faith in Him effectual. I believe that You, heavenly Father, are leading me and guiding me by the Holy Spirit through my spirit and illuminating my mind. Amen 

God loves you! 

Jerri