Teachings:

Teaching on Pride2/4/2007

Proverbs 16-18 "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."

When we have pride it can take on many forms. Pride is the 'look at what I have done'. It is the 'I am entitled to the way I think and am'. It almost always involves I and Me statements. It is the reason that the evil one fell from Heaven and it can bring us down as well. It can put distance between God and ourselves because it is sin and it is destructive to the integrity and humility we are to have to please God.

We all have pride. It is a way of believing and thinking that we get caught up in that skews the way we perceive and process the things in our lives.

Definition: pride
The quality or state of being proud, inordinate self-esteem, conceit, delight or elation arising from some act, proud or disdainful behavior, ostentatious display, best in class or group
As opposed to Humble: not proud or haughty, not arrogant or assertive, reflective expressing with submission, unpretentious.

Pride is greatly understood by God and it is largely hidden from us until God explains to us where we have practiced pride and have fallen short of his grace for us. God loves humility, that we know from scripture, but why? God loves a humble giver, God loves a humble heart these traits are honored by God, HONORED.

Luke 14-11 "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted."

Pride is practiced when we believe we have the right to be bitter for the things done to us.
Pride is practiced whenever we think we are actually 'in charge' of happenings.
Pride is practiced if we think that the talents and monies and wisdom we have is self held.
Pride is practiced when we compare or judge another for any reason.
Pride is practiced while we gain status, notoriety, intellect.
Pride is practiced when we take for ourselves again and again, ignoring others.

Humility is practiced when we give to others.
Humility is practiced when we give to God including ourselves each day.
Humility is practiced when we know what Christ really did, He was truly humble.

Scriptures, 1Jn.2:16, Job 41:15, Pslm.31:20, 59:12, 73:6, Pro.11:2, 13:10 Is.25:11, 2Ki.22:19, 2cron.12:7, 33:12, Pslm.35:13, Is.5:5, Mic.6:8