Hymn: When we walk with the Lord.
CENTRAL THOUGHT
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
TEXT: 1 PET. 5:5-6; MATT.18:1-4.
INTRODUCTION:
Humility and pride are two temperaments that are easily misunderstood. Some people are not confident and hide their vice under “humility”, whereas people are humble are often thought of as fools. It takes a wise heart to understand and appreciate the greatness of humility and the vanity of pride.
There could be several reasons why people may misjudge themselves, some of which are emotive. Unfortunately, irrespective of the reason for improper self-estimation, one who values himself more then he ought to (the proud) is an enemy of God Almighty. One who lacks self-worth cannot be useful to God either.
God wants His people to know Him, and to know themselves; to have an accurate understanding on why they are on earth and indeed, understand the reasons for things. Just as darkness differs from light, and the wise from the foolish, there is a great contrast between the humble and the proud.
In our study, humility is different from foolishness, and self-confidence is not the same as pride. Humility is the quality of being modest or respectful. Pride is a haughty attitude shown by the people who consider, often unjustifiably, that they are better than others. It is arrogance, having an exaggerated opinion of personal worth or abilities.
The Lord God hates pride. “There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: a proud look…”( Pro 6:16). Furthermore, the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (Jam 4:6).
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study is to show the difference between the humble and the proud and to encourage God’s people to be humble.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1) HOW DOES PRIDE DIFFER FROM HUMILITY?
Prov.8:13; 11:2; 13:10; 15:33; 16:5; Matt.20:27; John 13:14; 1 John 2:15-17; Rom.12:3
Pride in the heart of a person is a great evil which makes him to dishonor or disrespect others; it erodes the fear of God from him. “The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil,: Pride a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to God”. Prov.8:13. A proud person would make mockery of people. It is idolatry because it is actually self-worship.
Pride brings disgrace. It is wise to be humble. Arrogance causes nothing but contention, but humility gives room to others. Where people are proud, deceit, unhealthy rivalry, jealousy, enmity, protectiveness and distrust flourish. It is common with the educated, the rich and the good-looking in the society. But reverence for the Lord is an education in itself. You must be humble before you can ever receive honors. “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised”, Pro 31:30. There is nothing we have that has not been given to us freely by the Lord. We should return to Him glory in humility and reverence for “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”, Prov.16:5.
Where there is pride, there would soon be a fall. But with the humble is promotion. The Lord adds to and honors the humble, but the proud stumbles in hi short-sightedness.
The Lord Jesus Christ taught that the way up is down; “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”, Mat 20:27, 28.
QUESTION 2) HOW CAN A MAN BE HUMBLE, AND WHAT CAUSES PRIDE?
Is. 14:12-15; EZ.28:16-17; 2 Chr.26:16, Acts 12:21-23; Dan 4: 29-31; 2 Chr.32: 23-27
The tendency to sin is with mortal man. Thus, it is easier to do wrong than right until a man is taught otherwise. It is the Spirit of God that not only teaches our minds to think right, but also transforms our spirit, soul and body so that we can think, and act that which is good. A man full of the Spirit of the Lord would be truly humble. A proud person does not have the Spirit of God. One who fears the Lord would be humble. Knowledge of God, and His will make a man humble. The more we know Him, the more we see the foolishness in pride. Remove deceit from your heart and face reality. Know who you are indeed, and do not contend with men. Rather be content in God, look up to the hills. The more we know, the more we understand the end of the proud: a fall. Many people learn only from experience. In many passages in scripture some people learnt humility by experience, others were not quite lucky: they died because of, and in their pride.
Strength, praise, beauty, money, fame, possessions, deceit, and lies are some causes of pride. But chief of all these is ignorance, foolishness and timidity deeply embedded in the heart. These make the man not to face his fears but hide behind wealth, experience or position or fame. He pretends that he is actually what the crowd is saying he is. Foolishness makes him think that the voice of the people is actually the voice of the Almighty. Too many examples of fallen men and women who were “great” in their own eyes exist today to teach us that pride in the heart has only one mission destruction.
Today, it is common to hear elaborate introductions in the church. They say “give honor to whom honor is due”. People, in attempt to “give honor to whom honor is due” even add (lies) to facts as they introduce mere brethren as superstars. Our sense of judgement has been warped because of pride and insensitivity. The “brother” being introduced pretends that he is humble and that he does not like the “great” introduction. But he does not berate the liar who has just lied about him. He hugs his bible and hops to the pulpit, smiling. The Lord is unhappy (Job 32:21-22). The liar caused or aided the pride. Both of them have done wrong. Human praise is dangerous. Be not hasty at giving or receiving a sensitive medication as human praise.
QUESTION 3) WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF HUMILITY, AND THE REPERCUSSIONS OF PRIDE? Prov.22:4
The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth, honor and life.
The humble person would be patient, and so he would eat of the good of the land. He would wait on the Lord for His blessing. He would wait even when the situation seems too dicey. He would not consult the devil through mediums and palm readers and all the globetrotters parading the streets as solution providers. He knows the Lord and is willing rather to die than go the way of the world. In his patience, the Lord would meet his needs and bring him honor. The Lord would heal his diseases and add life to him. The Almighty would bring shame on those who scuffed at him; He would promote him above his enemies.
It is a great thing to fear the Lord. It is to be treasured above anything else on earth. While in this world if all you have is the fear of the Lord, then you have everything. When a man fears the Lord, he makes the Almighty his defense. And though people would revile him, he would not revenge. He would even be called a fool for his humility. Yet he would not change his ways, because he has “seen” the way of the Lord to be better, he stays in it. In the fullness of time, at God’s own time, he would visit him and load him with riches and goodness.
However, as we have seen in the lesson, the proud shall not stand before the Lord. He detests pride. And pride shall not go unpunished.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
There are few people who are not proud. Perhaps some of the people studying this lesson are very proud (of their ancestry, inheritance; their “person”, and education). Missionaries, evangelists, teachers, church pastors, elders, deacons and other workers in the faith may be proud. So,brethren, what shall we do? Shall we continue to teach, preach to people that should be humble and yet remain proud? Or shall we simply die as proud church people? None of these would land us safe before the judge of the universe! We must pay attention now to the warnings of this lesson and come down if we want to go up! It is about self-assessment. Remove deceit from your heart, brother and sister. Let us face our self by our self. No pretense. May the Lord give you understanding.
MEMORY VERSE:
1 PET 5:5
“…Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Mon: Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 18:1-4
Tue: The things of the world. 1 John 2:15-17.
Wed: The pride of Herod kills him. Acts 12:21-23.
Thu: Let God lift you up. 1 Pet.5:6.
Fri: There is wisdom in humility. Prov. 11:2.
Sat: Reward of humility. Prov.22:4.