Proverbs 13:10a

Proverbs 13:10a KJV - Only by pride cometh contention

INTRO

Tonight, let us examine the root of all other sins, the foundation of all transgressions, it is the original sin, it is the sin we have all commited and are likely still committing regularly. A great sin that God calls an abomination. It is the sin of Pride.

Pride can grow on any soil, in any climate—no place is too hot for it, and no place is too cold for its growth. How much misery has it caused in this world! How many men and women are kept from salvation by pride! How many marriages have been burned up by pride? How many friendships have met their end by the destroyer called pride?

Pride is everywhere! It’s in this church, it’s in your home, it’s at your job, it’s everywhere you go. And often times you and I are the carrier of this great disease.

As the rats and rodents carried the bubonic plague across Europe in the 1300s, people carry the sin of pride every where they go. If you can find people, you can find pride.

I. The Definition of Pride

-Self Esteem, Pride is basically a sin of attitude and of the heart and spirit.

“Pride is a denial of dependence upon God.”

Pride is the foundation of all other sins.

Pride says, I am enough.

Pride says, I am somebody.

The sin of pride is an excessive preoccupation with self and one's own importance, achievements, status, or possessions. This sin is considered rebellion against God because it attributes to one's self the honor and glory that only God is due.

Psalm 10:4 KJV - 4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Pride takes God out of the equation and puts yourself in His place.

That’s why God hates pride. He calls it an abomination.

Proverbs 16:5 - Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:

Pride is a denial of dependence on God.

We all stand guilty of pride.

Pride is giving ourselves the credit for something that God has accomplished.

Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and keeping it for ourselves.

Pride is essentially self-worship. Anything we accomplish in this world would not have been possible were it not for God enabling and sustaining us.

II. The Result of Pride

A. Contention

Contention=a struggling together in opposition; strife, a striving in rivalry; competition; contest.

Every fight you ever had, every disagreement, all comes from one thing and one thing only-Pride!

Every war ever fought, every murder, every, contention, all comes from one thing and one thing only-Pride!

There is one thing that brings contention-Pride. “Only by pride”

Proverbs 28:25a KJV - He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife:

B. Shame

Proverbs 11:2a - When pride cometh, then cometh shame:

Pride will always result in shame

ILL: Hit my grandparents car as a 14 year old kid....so much shame!

Pride will bring shame on you and your family.

C. Rejection

1 Peter 5:5b ..for God resisteth the proud...”

God rejects those that are proud.

Pride will result in resisting you

Remember this verse? Proverbs 16:5 - Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:

D. Destruction

Proverbs 16:18–19a Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride is a great destroyer.

Pride was the sin of Lucifer and he will be destroyed for eternity.

Pride was the fall of mankind and every man will face the destruction of his body.

III. The Solution for Pride and Contention

Do you struggle with pride?

Do you have contentions in your life?

What is the solution?

A. Accept Guilt

ILL: A man thinks his wife is losing her hearing. A doctor suggests that he try a simple at-home test: Stand behind her, ask her a question from different distances, and see when she can hear it. The man goes home, sees his wife in the kitchen facing the stove, and asks from the door, “What’s for dinner tonight?” No answer. Ten feet behind her, he repeats, “What’s for dinner tonight?” Still no answer. Finally, right behind her he says, “What’s for dinner tonight?” His wife turns around and says, “For the third time—chicken.”

Jesus taught us to look at our own shortcomings before we blame others.

ILL: Matthew 7 -speaks of trying to help someone with a moat in their eye while having a beam in yours.

I believe we can all say we are guilty of pride.

Do you have contention with people in your life?

It comes down to one of you…or both of you having pride!

It’s really easy to point your finger at the other person and say they have pride! It’s their fault!

But before you do you better check your own heart!

Many times there is pride on both sides. Even when one side might be right.

“Even if you are right, pride makes you wrong.”

It’s time to address the pride in your own heart!

B. Practice Humility

Proverbs 13:10a KJV - Only by pride cometh contention

Humility brings peace.

Humility is admitting that we are nothing.

That’s hard for us to admit!

Well bro Clay, I’m something! I mean I’m not as bad as....

That’s like one disease infested rat, saying he’s better than the other disease-infested rats because

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...”

Galatians 6:3 - For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

The greatest humility of all time:

Philippians 2:3–8 KJV - 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Birth of Jesus - “Peace on earth”

Jesus who is God-was made in the likeness of men, took on the form of a servant.

We are to have this mind in us! The mind of humility.

If God who is greater than all-who can claim that! He could have pride-and be justified to have it! If He could humble Himself to become not only a man, but become a servant, then humble himself to death, shouldn’t we be willing to humble ourselves?

“Let us daily strive to copy our Savior’s humility. Pride is the oldest and commonest of sins. Humility is the rarest and most beautiful of graces. For humility let us labor. For humility let us pray. Our knowledge may be scanty. Our faith may be weak. Our strength may be small. But if we are disciples of Him who “dwelt at Nazareth,” let us at any rate be humble.”

C. Depend on God

Remember what the definition of pride is: “Pride is a denial of dependence upon God.”

We need the Lord!

We are nothing without God.

We can do nothing without God.

We a cursed to an eternity of Hell fire without God.

We are nothing!

We need the Lord!

Song by Ron Hamilton, aka Patch the Pirate: “Lord I need you, when the sea of life is calm, O Lord I need you, when the wind is blowing strong, wether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees, Lord I need you! Lord I need you!

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Let’s depend on God!

Lean not on your own understanding! Lean on God!

Humility says, I am nothing. Dependence says God is everything!

We need God as the flowers need the sun

We need God as the waves need to the moon.

We need God just as much as a living creature needs oxygen in their lungs.

Conclusion

Proverbs 13:10a KJV - Only by pride cometh contention

Contention is a result of pride and pride alone.

To eliminate contention, you must rid yourself of pride.

To eliminate cancer is easier than eradicating pride.

Pride will always live dormant in our depraved hearts for as long as they beat.

We need to constantly keep our hearts in check.

Practice humility, lean on God.