Wisdom Issues

in Proverbs

2.My Character•Purity•Humility•Integrity•Diligence•Kindness•Self-control

1. My Relationship with GodMy “Heart” – Worship, Submission, Trust

4. Family•Marriage

• Purity• Attitude

•Parenting• Respect• Discipline

5. Finances•Honoring God •Contentment•Generosity•Loans/Surety•Wealth

3.Social •Relationships• Neighbors• Friendships• Speech• Conflict

•Government• Authority• Accountability

Copyright VCLi http://adashofsaltarticles.blogspot.com/2008_

PRIDE

Pride goes before…

• (Proverbs 16:18-19) Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. {19}

• (Proverbs 18:12) Before his downfall a man's heart is proud

• (Proverbs 29:23) A man's pride brings him low,

The 1st sin – Satan’s Pride• (Isaiah 14:13-14) You (Satan) said in your heart, "I will

ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God… I will make myself like the Most High."

• (Ezekiel 28:16-17) I (God) drove you (Satan) in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. {17} Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.

• “Pride is the worst viper that is in the heart; it is the first sin that ever entered into the universe, and it lies lowest of all in the foundation of the whole building of sin…it is ready to mix with everything; and nothing is so hateful to God, and contrary to the spirit of the Gospel…and there is no one sin that does so much let in the Devil into the hearts of the saints”

Jonathan Edwards – 1700’s preacher/theologian

Pride – The sinful root

(Proverbs 21:4) Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!= Pride is the source of all other sin!•Greed – Wanting things that makes me look good•Jealousy – Wanting image etc. to look good•Conflict – Blaming you so I look better•Deceit – Hiding what we did wrong – to look good•Bitterness – Resentment for making me look bad•Hypocrisy – Pretending to look better than we are•Embarrassment – I don’t want to be seen as I am

Grace for the humble• (2 Chronicles 33:12-13) In his distress he (King Manasseh) sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. {13} And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

• (Proverbs 3:34) He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

• The single object of our life is the glory of God [to make God looks good]. If we do not make it the supreme goal of our efforts, we must deprive ourselves of His help, for His grace is only at the service of His glory.

Theodore Monod

Trials that Prevent Pride

• (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) To keep me from becoming conceited… there was given me a thorn in my flesh…{8} Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. {9} But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Humility and Honor• (Proverbs 15:33) The fear of the LORD teaches a man

wisdom, and humility comes before honor.•  (Proverbs 18:12) Before his downfall a man's heart is

proud, but humility comes before honor.•  (Proverbs 22:4) Humility and the fear of the LORD bring

wealth and honor and life.•  (Proverbs 29:23) A man's pride brings him low, but a

man of lowly spirit gains honor.• (James 4:10) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he

will lift you up.

Discovering Pride; Developing Humility

1. My pride is mostly invisible to me (it’s an attitude).

2. Pride is mostly discovered by finding out what others see in me.

3. God will use people who know me best,• Some will be my closest friends/spouse• Some will be the people I find hard to work with.

4. My defensiveness is my pride.• Developing humility is a continual exercise of

listening to God and others.• Confess, Apologize, Seek input and support of others.

The humble are teachable/approachable• (Proverbs 15:31) He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.

• (Proverbs 19:20) Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

• (Proverbs 19:25) …rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

• (Proverbs 21:11) When a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.