Wisdom for Living Well From Proverbs – Wisdom for Killing Pride
Text for Sermon: Proverbs 11:2; 16:5, 18-19; 18:12; 27:2; 29:23
Introduction.
We are on a journey through the book of Proverbs to gain wisdom. We are seeking to put away folly, being foolish, and learning to live wisely and well in a foolish culture. Our prayer is to increasingly become mature believers.
This morning we will tackle the greatest hindrance to being wise, and living wisely and well.
Pride. This is a most challenging subject. My challenge is to convince you that you are proud, and then convince you to kill your pride that you love so much.
But pride is tricky. We see it in others very quickly, but it is notoriously difficult to see in ourselves. Pride makes us blind to our pride. It is a very deceptive. It is the master of disguises.
If I asked you are you proud, you would probably say you are because you know that’s the right answer and you know that everyone is. But if I asked you how you are proud, where does it show up in your life, you might have trouble giving an honest answer.
Everyone thinks others are proud and they can spot it a mile away, the braggard, the trash talker, the arrogant boss, the know-it-all, the one who thinks he’s always right, who is full of himself, a self-promoter, the person who dominates the conversation.
But we aren’t like that, right. Our pride disguises itself as: confidence, independence, taking responsibility, strong convictions, perfectionism, competence, concern for excellence, having high standards, protecting our rights, concern for the truth.
And there is the challenge because some of those things can be good things. Why is it a sin to feel proud of something you have accomplished, something you are right about? Why does the Bible warn against pride so strongly and teach that pride is sin?
Before we tackle that let me very quickly and briefly say there is “good” pride.” There is a way to be proud of accomplishments or proud of our kids and grandkids or others without sin. There is a place for praise and admiration, for kudos and a much deserved well done. But that is not the greatest need of the moment. There is an elephant in the room.
Pride is the deadliest of all the deadly serious sins.