The Dangers Of Pride “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

Proud Defined “especially in a bad sense, with an overweening (“Presumptuously arrogant; overbearing” – American Heritage Dictionary) estimate of ones means or merits, despising others or even treating them with contempt, haughty” (Thayer, p. 641).

The Dangers Of Pride Warnings

Warnings About Pride 1) Obvious it is a sin. “A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin” (Proverbs 21:4). “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy…And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-2,5).

Warnings About Pride 2) It is abomination to God. “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Warnings About Pride 3) An ornament of the wicked. “For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment” (Psalm 73:3-6). “They were proud of their wealth and stations in life, and they wore that pride like jewelry” (Wiersbe Commentary).

Warnings About Pride 4) It is a sin of Satan. “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6). “The words, “being lifted up with pride,” are tuphoō, “to raise a smoke, to emit smoke, smoulder,” hence metaphorically, “to blind with pride or conceit.” The noun describes a person who is in a beclouded or stupid state of mind as the result of pride. The condemnation of the devil refers to the fact that Satan is under the condemnatory sentence of God because of his original sin of rebellion against God, which sin was motivated by pride” (Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament – Volume 2, p. 58).

The Dangers Of Pride Warnings Destroys

It Destroys 1) It will cause one to fall. “Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility” (Proverbs 18:12). “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud” (Proverbs 16:18-19).

It Destroys “The special evil of pride is that it opposes the first principle of wisdom (the fear of the Lord) and the two great commandments. The proud man is therefore at odds with himself (8:36), his neighbor (13:10) and the Lord (16:5). Destruction may appropriately come from any quarter” (Derek Kidner, Commentary on Proverbs, p. 113).

It Destroys 2) Causes strife. “By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom” (Proverbs 13:10). “He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered” (Proverbs 28:25). “Is it too much to say, that vain-glory hath lighted up all the sinful contentions, that have ever kindled in the church?” (Charles Bridges, Commentary on Proverbs, p. 156).

It Destroys 3) Will bring shame. “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). “A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). The words “shame” and “low” could be defined as “disgraced and humiliated.”

It Destroys 4) It hardens the heart. “But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him” (Daniel 5:20).

It Destroys 5) Nations fell because of their pride. “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah” (Isaiah 13:19). “We have heard of the pride of Moab-- He is very proud-- Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so” (Isaiah 16:6).

The Dangers Of Pride Warnings Destroys Leads To

Pride Leads To 1) Exalting self. “The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!” (Daniel 4:30-31).

Pride Leads To 2) Looking down at others. “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess’” (Luke 18:9-12).

Pride Leads To 3) Failure to admit wrong. “But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16). Uzziah king of Judah. Can we – (a) Admit our sin(s) (b) Say we are sorry (c) Ask one for forgiveness (d) Admit that you have been wrong

Pride Leads To 4) Leads away from God. “And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4).

The Dangers Of Pride Warnings Destroys Leads To The Cure

The Cure 1) A self examination. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

The Cure 2) Being sober minded. “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). Soberly – “to exercise self-control; i.e. to put a moderate estimate upon oneself, think of oneself soberly” (Thayer, p. 613). Robertson says, “Self-conceit is here treated as a species of insanity.”

The Cure 3) Practice humility. “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7).

The Cure 4) Fear the Lord. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever” (Psalm 11:10). “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).

The Dangers Of Pride Warnings Destroys Leads To The Cure