LIVING IN AN IMMORAL WORLD: DEALING WITH PRIDE

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
PROVERBS 16:18

Pride is one of the most deceptive tools Satan uses against believers.
Most believers have trouble identifying this fault in themselves.
They quickly deny its presence in their life, and are usually the last ones to see it.
People do not like the idea that others would think they are prideful.

God hates pride!
In fact, it is at the top of the list of the seven things He hates!
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
(Proverbs 6:16-19)

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
(Proverbs 8:13)

The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
(Proverbs 16:5)

“haughty” is defined as ‘arrogantly superior and disdainful’
Synonyms are: proud, arrogant, vain, conceited, snobbish, superior,
self-important, pompous, supercilious, condescending, patronizing
Anything God HATES should NOT be a part of our lives.

As king of Israel, David had to deal with his prideful attitude.
His own arrogant pride was influencing an entire nation.
This is quite common – people tend to adopt the ways of those in a leadership position.
If sinful pride continued, the nation was destined to suffer a spiritual collapse.
If his nation suffered spiritually, their relationship with God was in jeopardy,
and problems such as economic depression and moral decline were sure to follow.
Sound familiar?

What did David do?  How did he handle this dire situation?
He turned to God!
David ‘humbly’ asked for God’s help as he fell to his knees and prayed,
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
(Psalm 139:23-24)

David knew that the fate of his nation depended on his relationship with God.
He knew he had to rid himself of anything that displeased God, including arrogant pride.
He also knew that humility was a characteristic that pleases God.

We can see many parallels between our world today and the days of David.
What should we do as individuals?  Who should we turn to for guidance?
We cannot control what others do; we can only control what we think and do.
It is our responsibility to make the right choices – choices that please God.

How are you doing in the area of pride? (not pride in doing a good job, but arrogant pride).
Do you feel you have all the answers and those who do not agree with you on everything are wrong?
Do you tend to consider others as inferior to you in several areas – especially wisdom and knowledge?
Are you in any kind of leadership position and if so, how are you impacting others?
Have you followed David’s example to humble yourself before the Lord,
and ask for Him to totally cleanse you of anything that displeases Him?
Pray,
“Lord, deliver me from the sin of pride, and fill me with a continual humility
as I go about the tasks before me this day and every day.  Help me to be aware
of how my own attitudes can impact those around me and more importantly, how they
affect my relationship with You. Purge me from anything and everything that displeases
You, so that I can be a better servant of Yours and point others to You.”