Diane Avenue Church of Christ

John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

BIBLE CLASS

The Pride of Life

Scripture Text: 1 John 2:15-17; Isaiah 23:9; 2 Chronicles 26:1-22

The Pride of Life Isaiah 23:9 (NIV)

9 The LORD Almighty planned it,    to bring down her pride in all her splendor    and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.

The Pride of Life 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)  15 Do not love the world or anything in

the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The Pride of Life Introduction: Why is Pride one of the

greatest sins? A. Pride may be the most dangerous of

sins! 1. The Lord leaves no doubt as to it

danger. (1 John 2:15-17; Isa 23:9) 2. What does God hate? (Proverbs

8:13)(Jude 1:16; Col 2:23)

The Pride of Life Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;    I hate pride and arrogance,    evil behavior and perverse speech

The Pride of Life Jude 1:16 (NIV) 16 These people are grumblers and

faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

The Pride of Life Colossians 2:23 (NIV) 23 Such regulations indeed have an

appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

The Pride of Life I. What is Pride? (Webster’s) 1pridenoun \ˈprīd\ Definition of PRIDE 1: the quality or state of being proud: as a:

inordinate self-esteem : conceit b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect c: delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship <parental pride>

2: proud or disdainful behavior or treatment : disdain

The Pride of Life I. What is Pride? (Bible) A. There are several words that indicate

pride: “Haughty, vainglory, high look..” 1. Paul uses the word: “Puffed-up” - “to

inflate, blow-up, blow out, to cause to swell up…. To make proud.” 2. Have you ever known someone is “full

of hot air.” a boastful person (Proverbs 25:14)

The Pride of Life Proverbs 25:14 (NIV) 14 Like clouds and wind without rain 

   is one who boasts of gifts never given. Proverbs 16:18 (NIV) 18 Pride goes before destruction,

a haughty spirit before a fall

The Pride of Life Daniel 5:20 (NIV) 20 But when his heart became arrogant

and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.

The Pride of Life Romans 1:28-30 (NIV) 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it

worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;

The Pride of Life B. Pride is an unrealistic view of ones

abilities. 1. The scriptures clearly warn us. (Gal

6:3; Rom 12:3) Galatians 6:3 (NIV) 3 If anyone thinks they are something

when they are not, they deceive themselves.

The Pride of Life B. Pride is an unrealistic view of ones

abilities. Romans 12:3 (NIV) Humble Service in the Body of Christ  3 For by the grace given me I say to

every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

The Pride of Life

Pride verses Humility

The Pride of Life Definition of HUMBLE 1: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or

assertive 2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of

deference or submission <a humble apology> 3 a: ranking low in a hierarchy or scale :

insignificant, unpretentious b: not costly or luxurious <a humble contraption>

The Pride of Life James 4:10 (NIV) 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord,

and he will lift you up. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under

God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time

The Pride of Life 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV) Suffering for Doing Good 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be

sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

The Pride of Life Let us not confuse the sin of pride with

self satisfaction. Have you experience pleasure, joy or a

sense of satisfaction when you have worked hard to accomplish something or family member has succeeded in school, business or in life?

Is it all right to feel that way? Here's a conclusion reached by Solomon

a wise man (Eccles. 5:18-19).

The Pride of Life Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 (NIV)  18 This is what I have observed to be

good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

The Pride of Life So in other words God wants us to take

pleasure in our achievements. It's a gift from God to be able to work hard and see the tangible results of our efforts. God wants us to enjoy not only our accomplishments, but our work itself. In fact, it is gross ingratitude not to enjoy our work and what we accomplish through it. So what is the difference between this sense of satisfaction that contributes to a healthy self-esteem and the unhealthy pride that God hates?.......... Discuss this

The Pride of Life Unhealthy pride, by definition, is an

excessively high opinion of oneself. This results in a person's reputation, needs,

desires, dignity, and public image being his or her main interest and concern, regardless of the effect on others.

The Pride of Life C. Pride can come from abundance,

achievements and blessings, that is why it can be so dangerous.

1. Knowledge is good, but watch for pride. (1 Cor. 8:1-2)

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 (NIV)  1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We

know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.

The Pride of Life

THE STORY OF A KING

The Pride of LifePleasure and satisfaction can slip over the

edge and fall into pride when we think we are important or superior because of who we are, what we have, or what we have done. What happens when we fail to acknowledge that God is responsible for everything we are, have, and do in this life? A story in the Bible describes just such a scenario. It's a story about Uzziah, who was just sixteen when he became king of Judah. He was very successful in everything he did.

The Pride of Life 2 Chronicles 26: 1-3 - Uzziah King of Judah  1 Then all the people of Judah took

Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem.

The Pride of Life 2 Chronicles 26: 4-5 - 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the

LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

The Pride of Life 2 Chronicles 26: 6-14 Uzziah wanted to know God, and he put

himself under the instruction of a prophet who taught him God's Word and God's ways. God responded by giving Uzziah success in every area of his life. He also gave him victory over Israel's ancient enemies, so that Uzziah became famous and very powerful.

The Pride of Life Uzziah strengthened the defenses of

Jerusalem. He improved grazing lands in the desert by building cisterns to catch the rainwater so that his livestock could flourish "His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful"

2 Chronicles 26:15

The Pride of Life God gave this godly king the power to

win his battles. God used Uzziah as evidence to His people as well as to the nations all around that when a person worshiped the living God and obeyed His Word, he would be blessed in every way. But little by little, something happened to Uzziah. 'After Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall" 2 Chron. 26:16.

The Pride of Life 2 Chronicles 26:16-18 - 16 But after Uzziah

became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God.”

The Pride of Life Commentary: When he was rebuked, instead of

repenting, he became infuriated and raged at the priests. Anger is often a symptom of pride that we display when our control is threatened and we can't have our own way. Does this sound familiar? Do you know people like that?

What would have happened in this situation if God had not intervened is anyone's guess!

The Pride of Life 2 Chronicles 26:19-22- 19 Uzziah, who had a

censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the LORD had afflicted him.

The Pride of Life 2 Chronicles 26:19-22- 21 King Uzziah had

leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house—leprous, and banned from the temple of the LORD. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

 22 The other events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah rested with his ancestors and was buried near them in a cemetery that belonged to the kings, for people said, “He had leprosy.” And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.

The Pride of Life Commentary:

God was the One who had first exalted Uzziah, and God was the One who humbled him. Uzziah lost everything when he forgot that the reason for all his victory, power, and fame was obedience to God's Word and acknowledgment of His sovereignty.

The Pride of Life Maybe you think God's punishment was too

severe. But Jesus said, "TO whom much is given, from him much will be required.“

 The punishment for those in leadership is usually much harsher because of their example and influence. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" (Prov. 11:2). "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18).

The Pride of Life Many years later, a proud pagan king

learned the same lesson and expressed it well:

"Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble" Dan. 4:37.

The Pride of Life 3. The apostle Paul needed help to avoid

pride. (2 Cor. 12:7) 2 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV) 7 or because of these surpassingly great

revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

The Pride of Life

Pride verses Gratitude

The Pride of Life II. Identifying Pride in our Lives A. Pride is essentially competitive. You have

to be the best. 1. The more you have of pride, the more

you notice it in others. 2. A proud person is thin skinned. At his

heart he is insecure. 3. Pride is not satisfied with mere

possession; he must have more than the other fellow. This is the root of envy. 2 Samuel 11:2

The Pride of Life 2 Samuel 11:2-4 (NIV)  2 One evening David got up from his bed

and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home.

The Pride of Life C. Pride produces ingratitude. (Rom

1:20-24) Romans 1:20-24 (NIV) 20 For since the creation of the world

God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

The Pride of Life C. Pride produces ingratitude. (Rom

1:20-24) 21 For although they knew God, they neither

glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

The Pride of Life Question: Can you name some things that we

should be grateful for but instead we take for granted?

Pride and ingratitude, are they fruit of the same tree or are they different.

The Pride of Life Pride Takes Credit For Prosperity When we take all the credit for our

accomplishments and forget that God is the One who has given us our ability, that's the kind of pride God hates. Think about it: Who gave you your intellectual capacity? If you graduated with honors, it's true that you worked hard, but another student may have worked even harder and not made it.

The Pride of Life 1. Moses warned the children of Israel

that they would give themselves credit for what God did. (Deut 8:16-17)

16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”

The Pride of Life

There is no room for boasting. (Gal 6:14) Galatians 6:14 (NIV) 14 May I never boast except in the cross

of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

The Pride of Life

To the Boaster ask Who gave you the ability to make money

and invest it well? Perhaps you have the Midas touch and it seems so easy. Do you look down on people who live from paycheck to paycheck even though they practice every economy?

The Pride of Life

To those who think they are smarter

Who gave you the skills that have made you successful in your job or profession? Sure, you've been diligent. You've taken courses, sharpened your skills—but others have tried just as hard and not made the grade.

The Pride of Life 2. What do we have that we didn’t

receive? (1 Cor. 4:6-7) 6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied

these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

The Pride of Life The point is all the glory goes to GOD…. for

creating us and for the blessings He showers on us. He wants us to give Him the glory and thank Him. That will keep us from the kind of pride and self-sufficiency that becomes a stench in His nostrils. "The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished" (Prov. 16:5).

The Pride of Life Are you aware that pride was Satan's

original sin? Isaiah 14:12-15 (NIV) 12 How you have fallen from heaven,

morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

The Pride of Life Isa. 14:12-15

13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

The Pride of Life II. Identifying Pride in our Lives – Satan… He aspired to be like God, and

that's exactly the bait he used to tempt Adam and Eve. He dangled the forbidden fruit before their eyes and said God didn't want them to eat it because then "they would be like God."

The Pride of Life II. Identifying Pride in our Lives – Pride and independence from God made our

first parents sinners, and that prideful nature was passed on to the whole race. Do you see why God hates pride? It's the fertile ground for all other sins to flourish. We see this in the New Testament as well when Paul predicted what the last days before the Lord's return will be like.

The Pride of Life II. Identifying Pride in our Lives – 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV) 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times

in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

The Pride of Life II. Identifying Pride in our Lives – Notice that the list starts with "lovers of

themselves." That's a good overall definition of pride. Then there are other words: "boastful," "proud," "conceited." God, who is the Author of Scripture, wants us to have a clear picture of what pride looks like, internally and externally. Look at the terrible emotions, attitudes, and conduct it produces: abusiveness, disobedience, ungratefulness, unholiness, without love, brutality, and so forth.

The Pride of Life II. Identifying Pride in our Lives – Does this describe what is going on today? What more evidence do we need to prove

that we are living in a culture that has forgotten God and His moral laws and exalted man? This kind of reprobation is the ultimate result of pride in the human heart. No wonder God hates it! James and Peter both quote Proverbs 3:34 to stress this point: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

The Pride of Life II. Identifying Pride in our Lives – Pride will cause one to take risks. 1 Cor.

10:12, 21-22 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be

careful that you don’t fall!

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

The Pride of Life If we examine our hearts to see if any

vestige of pride lurks there. How can we test ourselves so we can be honest and deal with this sin where we find it? Here are four key questions we should ask ourselves:

Am I in competition with others? Do I feel I have to be self-sufficient? Do I struggle with my self-image? Do I choose my friends for their

appearance, position, or performance? .