THE DESTRUCTION THAT COMES FROM PRIDE

Proverbs 16:18 

Introduction: There is a very fearful word in that passage.  It is the word “destruction”.  That word shows dangerous.  It means in the exactly what the dictionary means.  Jesus spoke of destruction.    Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

      This is destruction consists of eternal misery in hell.  It seems that the Creator and Judge of all mankind says that many are headed to destruction.  Why?  Their pride prevents the humbling of oneself to admit that he or she is a sinner and need a Saviour.  Pride is the number one reason.  I have heard most of the excuses or I have them written down why someone does not want to get saved.  But it will boil down to that sinister word “pride” that prevents a person from getting saved. 

      Pride is no a new sin problem.  Nor will it be one that is easily overcome.  But it can be cleanse by the blood of Christ.  The Lord Jesus can change your pride into biblical humility.

                                                2^nd Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

      The reason why we walk about in pride is that we are either not in Christ or not allow the Holy Spirit to bring those changes that are necessary to be like Christ.  It is my desire that we conquer this deadly sin that will lead us to destruction.   

I.  THE DEFINITION OF PRIDE

      The first and perhaps the deadliest of the seven deadly sins is pride. The Oxford Dictionary defines pride as an "unduly high opinion of one's own qualities, merits, that is, an arrogant bearing." In other words, pride is self-love that says, "I'm better than you." You see pride in others when someone makes a boast of his or her accomplishment as though you are expected to pay homage.

      When you really want to define pride as God and His Word does, you must go to the Word of God and see what God says about pride.  If you will be honest, you will not find one positive statement about pride in the Bible.  Never once did you find that God said He was proud of His people.  One verse kills this thought. 

                        Proverbs 8:13

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” 

II.  THE DISGUISES OF PRIDE

      The Great Imposter (the devil) in his own gallery of disguises: See if you recognize him in your own life.

      Self-defeating Pride: The pride that keeps us from doing better when we are doing well can also keep us from changing when we are in trouble. On a good day, we don't feel a need to change. When trouble comes, we don't want people to think we're changing our ways just because we're in trouble.

      Wounded Pride: The pride that prompts us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think can also fill us with self-contempt when we don't live up to our own expectations.

      Fearful Pride: The ego that causes us to be overly competitive on some occasions can also keep us from trying at all in other situations. Sometimes pride makes us willing to win at the expense of others. Sometimes it causes us to avoid the embarrassment of possible failure.

      Uninhibited Pride: The pride that causes us to be meticulous with our appearance can also cause us not to care what others think of us.

      Self-deceiving Pride: The pride that causes us to call attention to other people's mistakes can lead us to believe we don't have reason to be critical of ourselves.

      Uncaring Pride: The conceit that allows us to be preoccupied with our own problems can also help us to be olivious to the pain of others.

      Sulking Pride: The pride that keeps us from asking others for help can also cause us to sulk when others are not "there for us."

      Self-introducing Pride: Sometimes to admit pride seems fatal. At other times saying that we know we are proud is a way of saying we think we have something to be proud about.

      Self-berating Pride: The pride that keeps us from admitting we're wrong can also lead to self-berating behavior that helps us avoid being corrected by others.

      Pious Pride: The pride that causes us to be prayerless in our personal life can also prompt us to pray with crowd-pleasing eloquence in public settings.

      Overly-talkative Pride: The survival instinct that prompts us to be silent about what is really happening in us can also cause us to dominate conversations and relationships when we don't want others asking questions.

      Slacker Pride: The self-sufficiency that drives workaholics to try to make themselves indispensable can also cause a lazy person to assume that he can be a slacker without consequences.

      Tearful Pride: The conceit that causes us to disregard the feelings of others can also cause us to use tears to play on the emotions of others when we want something.

      Quiet Pride: The self-interest that causes us to parade our success can also prompt us not to admit our failures.

      Contrite Pride: The self-absorption that allows us to protect ourselves at others' expense can also prompt us to demand forgiveness when we've been forced to confess.  

3. THE DECEPTION OF PRIDE

      I have a couple illustration of the deception of pride that will show us the problems that accompany pride.

      Muhammad Ali had just won another boxing title. On the airplane the stewardess politely said to him, "You need to fasten your seat belt." Ali replied, "Superman doesn't need a seat belt." To which the stewardess politely responded, "And Superman doesn't need an airplane either; please fasten your seat belt."

      In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction—or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.

IV. THE DISPLAY OF PRIDE

      Herod in Acts 12 is one of the greatest examples of pride and its destruction.  Pride poisons our attitudes, paralyzes our abilities, and profanes our achievements.  King Herod, also known as Agrippa I, demonstrates the truth that pride goes before destruction. We find him arrogantly opposing the work of God for his own selfish gain. We see in his words, actions, and even outward appearance, a man filled with pride. When the ultimate test of his pride confronts him, that of being called a god, Herod smugly accepts the feigned worship. Immediately, the judgment of God strikes this prideful man and brings him to a shameful death of being eaten to death with worms.

V.  THE DECLARATION OF PRIDE

      Over and over again, we have the warnings of pride in the Word of God.  What does the Bible plainly declare about pride? Proverbs 29:23

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

                              Proverbs 11:2

“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”

                              Proverbs 16:5

“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”     

                              Proverbs 21:4

“An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.”

                              Proverbs 28:21

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

      With these plain declaration of pride, we can see what it is so destructive. 

VI. THE DELIVERANCE FROM PRIDE

                                                James 4:9-17

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

      The deliverance is true biblical humility.  What is humility?  James says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (verse 10).  So, what is humility?  How does it work in our lives?  Does it make us extremely shy and timid?  Does the humble person always give in to others?  Is the practice of humility the equivalent of making yourself a rug others can step on?  What is it and what is it not?  This passage describes biblical humility.  Consider the qualities of a humble man.

      First, the humble man submits to the will of God (verse 7).  This is the foundation of all other acts of true humility.  Humility begins by giving God first place in our decisions, our action and our motivations.

      Secondly, the humble man repents of his sins (verse 8) and mourns over his disobedience (verse 9).  We demonstrate pride when we are unwilling to admit and correct wrong in our lives.  A humble man has a “broken and a contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17) in the sight of God.

      Thirdly, the humble man refuses to speak evil of his brother in the Lord (verse 11).  He recognizes one lawgiver who is truly righteous and able to declare judgment on others (verse 12).  He leaves that judgment to God.

      Fourthly, the humble man refuses to boast about what he is going to do (verse 13-16).  Rather, he says, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (verse 15).

      Fifthly, the humble man recognizes that his every failure to do good is sin (verse 17) and therefore depends entirely on the Lord.  He does not take pride in his holiness but understands how far short he falls. 

Introduction: We need to compare these qualities to our own lives.  How do we match up?  Do you practice humility in these five ways?  Choose one are that you need the most work on.  Ask for God’s help in this area.  Then determine how you will practice this grace of humility today.