INTRODUCTION
The Bible tells us that pride goeth before a fall and a
haughty spirit before a fall. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ gave this
parable to prevent men from being proud especially when they are invited to a
party.
He shows us that it is better to take a place of humility
and be promoted to a place of honour than to take the place of pride and be
neglected to the place of shame and abasement.
A. i.
What is pride? Discuss
ii.
Is it virtous to be proud?
iii.
What are the possible consequences of pride?
B. Pride
is described by the Bible to be the characteristics of the following:
a. The
devil – I Tim 3:6
b. False
teachers – I Tim. 6:3-4
c. The
wicked – Hab. 2:4-5, Rom 1:30
d. The
world – I Jhn 2:16
e. Comes
from the heart, defiles a man – Mk 7:21-23
f. Against
the will of God
C. Pride
can do the following in the life of a man
a. It
leads to contempt and rejection of God’s word and ministers – Jer 43:2
b. It
leads to contention – Prov. 13:10, 28:25
c. It
leads to persecuting spirit – Psalm 10:2
d. It
leads to self deception – Jr 49:16, Obadiah 1:3
e. It
leads to wrath – Prov. 21:24
D. Pride
comes from the following
a. Inexperience
– I Tim. 3:16
b. Possession
of power – Lv. 26:19, Eze 30:6
c. Possession
of wealth – 2 Kings 20:13
d. Religious
privileges – Zph 3:11
e. Self
rightousness – Luke 18:11-12
f. Unsanctified
knowledge – I Cor. 8:1
E. They
who are guilty of pride shall suffer the following consequences
a. They
shall be obsessed – Due 4:7, Matt 23:12
b. They
shall be brought to contempt – Isa 23:9
c. They
shall be brought low – Ps 18:27, Is 2:12
d. They
shall be marred – Jr. 13:9
e. They
shall be punished – Zph. 2:10-11, Ml. 4:1
f. They
shall be recompensed – Ps 31:23
g. They
shall be resisted – James 4:6
h. They
shall be scattered – Luke 1:51
i.
They shall be subdued – Ex. 18:11, Is 13:11
j.
They shall be cursed – Is 23:1-3
CONCLUSION
We are expected as children of God to be humble wherever we
find ourselves for God resisted the proud but gives grace to the humble.
