OceanSide church of Christ

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THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF PRIDE (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.            Last week, we began a study of “The Destructive Nature of Pride” as revealed to us in the book of Proverbs.

 

B.             This morning, we want to continue that study.

 

C.            In last week’s lesson, we found that pride is destructive to self.

1.     Key Verse (Prov. 16:18)

 

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

2.     Proverbs 29:23

 

A man’s pride shall bring him low:  but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.

 

D.            In our lesson today, we want to look at two other things that a man’s pride can destroy.

 

I.    PRIDE DESTROYS RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE

 

A.   The book of Proverbs says that contention and strife are the result of pride

1.     Proverbs 13:10

 

Only by pride cometh contention:  but with the well advised there is wisdom.

 

2.     Proverbs 28:25

 

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife:  but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

 

B.    The things that we want in our relationships with others are unity, peace, and happiness.  Pride destroys these things.

1.     Pride will not allow an honest discussion of the issues of disagreement between two parties.

2.     Pride attacks the character of others rather than being focused upon their problems and differences.

3.     Pride seeks to divide individuals into hostile camps.

4.     Pride will not allow the words:  “I am wrong.”

5.     Pride will not allow the words:  “I am sorry.”

6.     Pride will not allow the words:  “I forgive you.”

 

 

 

C.   In the New Testament, we have at least two illustrations of relationships that were hurt by pride.

1.     James and John requested to sit at the right hand and left hand of Jesus (Mark 10:35-41).

a.     The Request (Mark 10:35-37)

b.    The Response (Mark 10:41)

 

And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

 

1)     The words “much displeased” mean “to be greatly afflicted” and “to be moved with indignation.”

2)     Had Jesus not intervened in the situation, there would have been a major riff within the apostleship.

2.     Diotrephes was a man who had a pride problem (III John 9).

 

I wrote unto the church:  but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

 

a.     There was a division between John and Diotrephes.

b.    The problem was that Diotrephes loved to have the preeminence among them.

 

II.         PRIDE DESTROYS ONE’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

 

A.   There are two teachings about pride in Proverbs that tell us that it destroys our relationship with God.

1.     Pride is sin (Prov. 21:4).

 

A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

 

2.     Pride is an abomination to God (Prov. 6:16-17).

 

These six things doth the Lord hate:  yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  a proud look…

 

B.    Let’s look at pride as sin.

1.     Pride is sin because its actions transgress the Word of God (I John 3:4).

a.     God demands humility (Mic. 6:8; Matt. 18:4; James 4:10; I Pet. 5:5-6).

 

He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.

 

b.    God tells us to never think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think (Rom. 12:3).

 

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

c.    The Bible exhorts us to have the mind of Christ, a mind of humility (Phil. 2:5-8).

2.     Two points are of great interest here.

a.     Satan’s sin was pride (I Tim. 3:6).

 

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

 

1)     In Ezekiel 28:12-19, we have the Lord’s words against the king of Tyre.  Much that is said seems to come from a previous event.  That event was possibly the fall of Satan.  Pride was part of that sin.  Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty.  Thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness (v. 17).

2)     Augustine:  “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels” (as quoted by Bobby Liddell in The Sayings of Solomon, B.J. Clarke, ed., p. 263).

b.    Satan led Adam and Eve into sin by appealing to their pride.

1)     Satan told them that they could be “as gods, knowing good and evil.”  And, when Eve saw that this was “a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat…” (Gen. 3:4-6).

2)     Satan still appeals to man’s pride when he tempts man (I John 2:16).

 

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

 

C.   Proverbs also calls pride an “abomination” unto God, something He hates.

1.     What is an “abomination”?

a.     It is something that is utterly disgusting and despised.

b.    Getting dog poo on one’s shoe is something that is utterly disgusting.  (NOTE:  It still is).

2.     Why does God view pride as an abomination?

a.     A proud man sets himself over God.  This is idolatry (Exo. 20:3).

b.    A proud man appeals to his own wisdom rather than fearing God (Rom. 1:21-22).

c.    A proud man thinks that he knows better than the all-wise God of heaven (I Cor. 1:20).

d.    A proud man believes that he is self-sufficient and that he does not need God (Luke 12:16-21).

e.     Pride is the ground in which all other sins grow.

 

D.   God will punish sin and His wrath will go out against all abominations.  He will allow neither sin nor abominations into the eternal City (Rev. 21:27).

 

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie:  but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Pride heads the list of the things that God hates (Prov. 6:16-19).

B.    Pride is extremely destructive in nature:  to self, to our relationships with others, and to our relationship with God.

 

C.   Would that all of us could grasp and practice the words of the wise man found in Proverbs 16:19. 

 

Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.