Dealing With Pride, Prov 21:4

According to Prov 21:4, pride is something we all have to contend with.  No matter who you are, you have a problem with pride or you will have a problem with pride at some point and in some way.  This sermon will help you know what to do about it.  When you deal with pride:

Get right – Prov 21:4.  Pride is a sin and you will never properly deal with it until you call it exactly what it is.  It is sin and it is abomination to the Lord [Prov 6:16-17].  We have a tendency to justify or excuse our pride.  There is no justification or excuse for sin.  You have to deal with it just like you would any other sin.

Get help – 1 Pet 5:5-6.  You can’t handle pride on your own. You need God’s help. God giveth grace to the humble.  See Jas 4:6-7.  Notice that God resisteth the proud.  God is not neutral when it comes to pride and humility.  He either helps you when you humble yourself or he resists you when you are proud.  If he desires, he will exalt you in due time.

Get down – Prov 29:23.  A man’s pride shall bring him low.  Prov 18:12 before destruction the heart is haughty.  Before honor is humility.  In other words, when you are lifted up in pride, you are coming down.  Well, if you get down, you won’t get knocked down.  A man who is as low as he can go can’t go any lower.  Stay low.

Get real – Prov 21:23-24.  A proud and haughty scorner dealeth in proud wrath.  Pride distorts reality.  You see things the way you do through eyes of pride and then you get mad about it.  Your view is distorted.  You need to get real and see it the way God sees it.  As Pastor Randy says, there are three views: your view, the other person’s view, and God’s view.

Get out – Prov 28:25; Prov 20:3.  Quit stirring up the strife; let the thing go.  You keep meddling with it and keep the strife alive.  When you humble yourself, you will realize that you don’t always have to be right.  You don’t always have to win or come out on top.  Many time, things will blow over and go away if you will just quit messing with them because of your pride.

Conclusion: there is much more that can be said about pride.  However, this simple sermon will give you some things you can do that will help you deal with your pride.  Put these things into practice.