“The Pride of Life”

It’s easy to say don’t allow pride to get in the way. But unless we are putting forth the effort how do we keep  it from getting in our way?

It can hinder communication between us and our Lord. 

Pride can be a stumbling block to self.

-refuse to listen to sound advice 

- refuse to accept limitations.

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-think ourselves invincible- Sometimes, it isn’t a matter of  “Can’t do something” but it’s  about, not being prepared to do the thing in question.”

If we aren’t willing to listen, it can be a hinderance.

What is pride?

Pride:

-a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

-the state or feeling of being proud.

-a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.

-to indulge oneself self in a feeling of pride.

Proverbs 13:10

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

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Contention:

-a struggling together in opposition; strife.

-a striving in rivalry; competition; contest.

-strife in debate; dispute; controversy.

-a point contended for or affirmed in controversy.

It’s no wonder that there would be opposition, and a struggle in a discussion or a situation. 

If the individuals are prideful. No one is humble enough to let it go. Therefore, the struggle continues. 

*Have you ever been in conversation with someone who believes they are right no matter what is said or presented?

*Have you been in a situation where you are attempting to teach someone how to perform a skill, but they put their own spin on it instead of demonstrating the skill you taught them?

There are a multitude of examples each of us can come up with related to dealing with someone who is prideful. 

 ✨Pride has a companion. Called “spirit of offense” and the person full of pride is cuddled between the two.   

Pride blocks the person from listening and they are quick to have a spirit of offense. It’s hard to reason with  this mentality because it sparks arguments which triggers the vicious cycle of contention.  This places everyone right back where they started from.

Proverbs 14:3

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Proverbs 13:10 NLT

Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.

The meek are those who are humble. The Lord appreciates humility and does not like pride or arrogance.

Proverbs 3:7

Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 

Proverbs 3:8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

We do not take into account that some of the trials we suffer through are because of our actions.

Proverbs 3:7 tells us to not be impressed with our own wisdom. To fear God and turn away from evil.

To fear God is to have respect and the upmost reverence for him. When we have respect for him, we are willing to turn away from evil and serve him, diligently.

Our problem is, we look at evil as the people who are doing the most in illegal and evil acts. In truth, anything that is in opposition to how  God tells us to do, act, and live, is till an evil act.

And should be taken seriously.

A lie can send us into hell. And if a lie can get us into hell, you have to know other acts are considered under righteous and will have the same result.

Don’t allow pride and arrogance to lead you into something that can be the reason you loses your soul.

We often lean heavily on our own 

Strength and wisdom so we can show others what we can do. 

God wants you to them what he can do. And when he does it for you. He wants the praise and the glory for what he has done.

Don’t be like King Nebchabezzer.

God gave him a vision. When it was interpreted. It was about him, standing a magnificent King over greatness God gave him. Then the tree 🌳 s cut down Sept for the stump.

He was given the full interpretation: here is what happened.  He was already informed by Danielle that  God blessed him with a great kingdom. 

Daniel 4:27-33 

27 King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.' 

[28] "But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. 

[29] Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 

[30] As he looked out across the city, he said, 'Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.' 

[31] "While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. 

[32] You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.' [

33] "That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles' feathers and his nails were like birds' claws.

Daniel tried to get King Nebuchadnezzar to turn away from his sin and live a righteous life.

And before this dream , when you go aback and read 1 Kings 2:25 to 38 you will read that Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar, the power, strength, and glory of his kingdom, was given to him by God.

The king has this knowledge that he did not gain all he has because of the false pagan gods he worshipped and it wasn’t from anything the king did by his own hands. It was from God.

And Daniel asking him to let go of his sins fell on deaf ears.

 Nebuchadnezzar let this advice go in one ear and out the other. Instead of learning from what Daniel told him about God, he continued in his own ways.  His pride and arrogance. Caught up with him while he still had the words in his mouth.

Then He gets another chance:

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Daniel 4:34-37 

34 After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. 

[35] All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, 'What do you mean by doing these things?' 

36] "When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. 

37] "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud."

The king learned his lesson the hard way, but gained understanding of what it means for God to humble the proud because of the experience God made him live through.

You can read King Nebuchadnezzar’s story in the Book of Daniel Chapters 1-4.

(We don’t think about how our actions can affect our lives when we refuse to give God the glory. 

What we experience, it is not by our power that we come out of the situation. 

But we could all use a bit of humbling, preferably by recognizing our faults and giving them up to God do he doesn’t have to humble us through a tragic lesson. 

Let us not be so quick to look over our property and take credit for all we have instead of glorifying God for it. Let King Nebuchadnezzar’s ordeal be a powerful lesson to us.

My Closing Prayer:

Father, I pray we value humility over pride. Let us gain wisdom and re-focus our lives around the goodness of God and his blessings.

Nothing can be accomplished unless God gives us the power to do it. Let the learning begin. In the name of Jesus, amen. 

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