The Problem of Pride

2 Samuel 24:1–3 CSB

1 The Lord’s anger burned against Israel again, and he stirred up David against them to say, “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Joab, the commander of his army, “Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the troops so I can know their number.” 3 Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times more than they are—while my lord the king looks on! But why does my lord the king want to do this?”

1 Chronicles 21:1–3 CSB

1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan and bring a report to me so I can know their number.” 3 Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply the number of his people a hundred times over! My lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

Pride is a reality:

The Lord records both sides of His beloved people.

David received great commendation from the Lord.

David also experienced condemnation from the Lord.

You and I tend to focus on David’s sin with Bathsheba and forget this sin.

It hits too close to home. It’s a sin you will either fight against or fall into it.

It’s our natural state.

1 Peter 5:5–7 CSB

5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

Wherever the Bible says to clothe yourself. It means that you don’t do it naturally. Clothe yourself in Christ’s righteousness, you can’t save yourself. Clothe yourself in humility. We have a natural bent towards comparing ourselves and wanting to get ahead. I find many of the current cultural issues to be deceptive. There’s a cry against the patriarchy on one hand because they can rightly point to pride in men. This group says, see that’s bad. When you ask though, what do you want? We want to get rid of them so we can be like them.

The solution is not to tear down the patriarchy but to lift up the humility of Christ that celebrates the gifting and calling of people as individuals who humbly serve others.

That’s how pernicious pride is. Even in seemingly noble causes, such as acknowledging and celebrating God’s gifting of women, we fight for getting ahead, not truly living in harmony or humility. It’s such a pervasive struggle.

GOD HATES PRIDE.

God does not hate you but He hates pride in you.

James 4:6 CSB

6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

2. Pride puts you in double jeopardy.

a. You lose God’s blessing.

b. You become open to Satan’s attack.

I have cats. When they get outside, they will stretch themselves out in the grass and lay flat as pancakes. They hope to see a bird come close and become vulnerable. If a bird comes close enough, you’ll see them rise up and claw at those unsuspecting birds. They just wait for an opportunity. That’s Satan, when David was humble, God protected and blessed him. He had been a simple shepherd. God’s hand protected him against Goliath. God gave him favor with the people.

Genesis 4:7 CSB

7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

GOD LOVES THE HUMBLE

Proverbs 16:18 CSB

18 Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

When you walk in Humility, God enjoys blessing you because you honor Him.

b. When you walk with God, you enjoy protection from Satan.

God walks with you.

Micah 6:8 CSB

8 Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

2 Samuel 24:10 CSB

10 David’s conscience troubled him after he had taken a census of the troops. He said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I’ve done. Now, Lord, because I’ve been very foolish, please take away your servant’s guilt.”

HOW DO WE GET CAUGHT UP IN PRIDE?

a. You begin to view blessings as something you earned.

Beauty can become a trap.

Brilliant people can forget they don’t know it all.

Norman Geisler at McClean Bible church about Hank Hannagraph. It would have been very easy for Geisler to put himself over

iii. Power money can make you think you don’t need God.

That is what happened to David.

Just five days after accepting the position as head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team in December of 2001, George O’Leary resigned in disgrace. An investigation had revealed that more than twenty years before he had included false claims on his resume, including saying that he had lettered in football when he was not even on the team and that he had a master’s degree which he had not earned. The lies had not been discovered at any of his previous coaching jobs, but the high profile accorded the position of coach at Notre Dame led to his exposure.

In a statement O’Leary said: “Due to a selfish and thoughtless act many years ago, I have personally embarrassed Notre Dame, its alumni, and fans. With that in mind, I will resign my position as head football coach.” Though a considerable amount of time passed between O’Leary’s deception and its discovery, it did come to light with devastating results. He had seemingly reached the heights of his profession, only to wake up and find it all taken away.

Source: New York Times, December 15, 2001

Question to ponder: how much can God bless you before you abuse it?

It’s interesting that when they study generosity, they find that Christians and religious people give far more than other groups. But they also discover that the poorer people give a greater percentage of their resources than the rich people. Times have not changed since Jesus’ day with the widow and two mites.

People like to use lots of reasons why they don’t give what the Lord puts on their hearts.

How’s your prayer life?

Prayer acknowledging your need for God each day is humility.

Prayerlessness is pride. That says I can do it on my own, I don’t need you.

2 Chronicles

Have students act it out.

Do you tell an anorexic girl she’s fat?

World says, embrace every feeling.

See Rogers chapter 5

Flee immorality

1cor10

1cor7

Run from the things that you know are harmful

He that is down needs fear no fall, He that is low, no pride; He that is humble ever shall Have God to be his guide.—John Bunyan

Source: Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan

Limit your exposure to the things you know will pull you down. Toxic people, manipulators, places where the bar is low.

I got friends in low places where the whisky runs and the beer chases my blues away.

Train yourself in godliness with a goal in mind.

The lady who gave up her desire to swim from Catalina Island. Florence Chadwick

goals matter

Face life’s challenges head on. Eat the frog first.

Feeling trapped or guilty creates a cycle of downward trend.

Keep kids away from the internet

don’t let them on it. but that is very difficult

Build your kids confidence in God, their value, and confident in the way God made her or him. Then they will not be easily swayed by peer pressure and the opinions of others. Teach them to love God and fear Him.