I - I - I!
Little children are precious. They're a blessing from God.
The Bible tells parents to teach and raise their children. We aren't to just let them grow up. We teach them our values. They learn right from wrong from us.
As precious as they are, we don't have to teach our children to want the biggest piece of cake, the largest present under the Christmas tree or to have the last bit of ice cream. (I know that I did. Lol. Amen, anybody?)
What we actually have to teach and explain to them is that "it's not all about you".
As we get older, if we think about it, we still have varying degrees of that same "I" problem.
Yes, we're too old to overtly demand the biggest piece of cake (most of us), but our pride as an adult might look like:
- - Wanting most of the credit for a group project
- - Not listening to someone else's idea because ours is always better
- - Looking down on others who aren't as pretty, intelligent, creative, well spoken, refined, or as clean as we are.
- - Having an inability to receive constructive criticism or a great ability to make excuses for poor behavior.
Bottom line - no one has to teach us to be prideful. It's in our hearts.
We have to learn NOT to be prideful.
As God’s children, we want to hear what our father has to say and to learn how to fix this pride problem with His leading.
So, the important question is: “What does God think about pride?”
Answer - He HATES it.
Statements on how awful pride is can be found all over Proverbs.
One passage that makes it beyond clear has the list of what God hates.
That's found in Proverbs 6:16 - 19.
The first thing on the list? You’ve got it. Pride.
The verse says that he hates "a proud look". It is in our hearts, but others see it.
It might be looking down at others or being arrogant.
God HATES pride .
What are some of the reasons why?
Let's put pride in the right perspective.
Pride keeps arguments going. (We are so important. We MUST be right. They are terribly wrong and we must tell them about it – for as long as it takes).
Proverbs 13:10 says, "Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice."
Consider these two verses in Proverbs 29.
Verse 8 - "Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger".
How prideful and self – involved. This person doesn’t mind waking up the whole city or disturbing the neighbors because what he has to say is so important.
Look how pride can make us blind to how everyone else sees us.
Verse 11 - "Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end".
As Proverbs 13:10 says, “Where there is strife, there is pride.”
Many people think they just have a bad temper, but God says that the root is pride.
Look at the second person mentioned in each verse. Verse 8 “but the wise turn away anger". And verse 11 “but the wise bring calm in the end".
The second person mentioned, is the one that God wants us to be.
God tells us to be wise, humble and wanting to pursue peace.
We don't have to insist on being right.
We can walk away. We have nothing to prove. It isn’t that serious.
That's humility. We don't have to PROVE who we are.
Let me ask this question – If we are completely out of control and yelling to prove our point, will it be easier or harder to tell those around us about Jesus?
In Proverbs 30:32 God tells us that if we realize we’re being prideful, we should just put a hand to our mouths. In other words - Just. Stop. Talking!
Stop. Pray. Ask God to forgive you and control your mouth, your heart and your pride.
Pride implies - There is no God or I don't need God.
Psalm 10:4
“In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
In Pastor Adrian Rogers message about pride, he states that when we aren't praying like we should (God says to pray without ceasing) it's because we feel that we don't need God.
We'll contact Him when our world is falling apart, but besides that – we have it handled. How dismissive to our wonderful Savior!
We need Him - EVERY hour. (Minute. Second).
We can't breathe except by his grace.
It's pretty prideful and ungrateful not to acknowledge Him always.
God wants us to be humble.
James 4:6
Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
We must realize that we are nothing without Him. We have no reason to be prideful.
Ps 100:3
“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and not we ourselves.; we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
We were GIVEN the wonderful family. God made us very coordinated. God made us creative.
HE deserves the credit. Not us.
We also need to realize that the other person has gifts. God made that person. In fact, He loves him or her and died for them as well as He died for us.
Sometimes we look down on others because their issues are much, much worse than ours.
Really?
We have to realize that we are ALL sinners (Romans 3:23) AND all our righteousness is as filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6b.
Who are we to elevate OUR sin so THEIR sins put them in a completely different category from us?
“Yes, I might have a problem with gossiping, but I’m not like HER.”
Let's think back. Where was pride on that list that God HATES?
The biblical position is that we are ALL sinners who are saved by HIS GRACE – not because we deserve it.
God actually makes that point very clear to us in Ephesians 2:8, 9.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast."
He knows that we’re so prideful that we’d try to take credit for our own salvation.
We'd say or think things like:
“John witnessed to 5 people. I however just hit 25!!”
“Martha went to church only twice this month. I went 5 times.”
The comparison game is based on PRIDE or the other name for it is SIN.
How does God want us to think about other people?
We are to put others ahead of us.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:3-4
We are to be humble enough to forgive others for offending us.
WE have had bad days and not behaved in the best way. Right? When that happens, we want others to forgive us.
We must give that same grace to others and remember how often God has given US grace.
In fact, if we don’t forgive, God won’t forgive us.
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14, 15
We can't hold grudges against others.
“He insulted me. ME!!!”
God says – Vengeance is mine. I will repay.
Romans 12:19
Trust God. He will fight your battles.
We ALL have some of the issues with pride that I’ve shared in this article. As we grow in the Lord and learn to completely submit to Him, we will open our hands and give the reins of our lives to Him. We will choose to be humble. When we are prideful, we’ll realize that it is wrong and ask God to forgive us and change our hearts. He always does. God will help us.
Amen?
Dear Lord.
Please forgive me for being prideful.
Thank you for reminding me that I am a sinner saved by YOUR grace. I don't deserve Heaven. Please give me the strength to put others first so they can see YOU clearly in my life. I want to obey you.
Thank you for forgiving me.
In Jesus's name. I pray.
Amen.
