Let’s Put away our Pride
Pali, this bull has killed me." So said Jose Cubero, one of Spain’s most brilliant matadors, before he lost consciousness and died.
Only 21 years old, he had been enjoying a spectacular career. However, in this l958 bullfight, Jose made a tragic mistake. He thrust his sword a final time into a bleeding, delirious bull, which then collapsed. Considering the struggle finished, Jose turned to the crowd to acknowledge the applause. The bull, however, was not dead. It rose and lunged at the unsuspecting matador, its horn piercing his back and puncturing his heart.
Just when we think we’ve finished off pride, just when we turn to accept the congratulations of the crowd, pride stabs us in the back. We should never consider pride dead before we are. Craig Brian Larson.
[20] And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. [21] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, [22] Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: Mark 7:20-22
Pride is self-exaltation, conceit, arrogance, haughtiness, putting oneself above others, looking down upon others, scorn, contempt.
Pride can be hidden in our heart as well as openly displayed. God resists the proud.
“Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).
“And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know” (1 Cor. 8:2).
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).
“The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined” (Psalm 10:2).
Why are we called to put away pride?
Because God tells us that HE resists the proud.
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6
Grace is the favor and blessings of God.
When we face temptation or do wrong, God meets our need: strength, wisdom, power, perseverance, patience, forgiveness.
In fact, we see in this verse God gives more grace, that is, grace upon grace, grace and more grace.
But not every believer and not every person receives God’s grace.
Meeting our need is not automatic, not everyone’s needs are met.
In fact, God’s word tells us the very opposite is true.
If a person is proud—if he is stiff necked, haughty, and rebellious against God—God resists that person.
God desires to pour His grace out upon us, but if we harden and rebel against God and continue to live in sin, God has no choice. God is shut out of the person’s life; so for a season at least, grace is rejected.
God can do nothing for the person.
God has to resist the person. He has to consider the person...
· a rebel
· a curser
· an antagonist
· a traitor
· an enemy
· a sinner
God stands against the sinner and the evil in their lives.
God must oppose and resist and will eventually put them to shame, so that they may submit…
But if we humble ourselves…God gives grace and more grace to the humble.
God will look after and care for us just like a child—loving, nourishing, nurturing, feeding, clothing, sheltering, protecting, and giving more and more life to us forever and ever.
“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. 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” (1 Peter 5:5).
“Though the lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly, but the proud he knoweth afar off” (Psalm 138:6).
Ok then, what shall we put on in place of Pride?
Humility: be subject to one another and clothed with humility.
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. 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” (1 Peter 5:5).
Not only are we to be subject to our ministers, but to subject ourselves to one another.
The word all means every one of us, all ages, sexes, and classes, no person is exempt.
All of us are to subject ourselves to all believers no matter who we may be: male or female, poor or rich, young or old.
Subjection takes concentration and effort, a deliberate decision to be in subjection to someone else. Scripture demands it.
We each are unique to God, having special gifts and contribution to make to the world and to the church.
All believers are to acknowledge, respect, and honor one another, all because of who each one is and because of the gift God has given each one of us. We must also “be clothed with humility.”
To “be clothed” means to gird yourself with an apron. A picture of Jesus in the upper room when HE girded HIMSELF with an apron and assumed the role of a servant, the lowest servant and washed the feet of the disciples.
Jesus, the Son of God and Sovereign Majesty of the universe, actually clothed HIMSELF with the apron of humility and served the disciples to show them and us how we are to serve. And, when he finished, He said:
“Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:13-15).
Alan Stibbs states it well: “The exhortation here is not to feel humble, nor to pray for humility, but to act it” (The First Epistle General of Peter. “The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries,” p.169).
The word “humility” means to offer oneself as lowly and submissive; to walk in a spirit of lowliness; to present oneself as lowly; to act of low degree and low rank.
It is opposite of being high-minded, above and better than others, prideful, arrogant, superior, haughty, and self-assertive.
We may have a high position, power, wealth, fame, and much more; but we are to carry ourselves in a spirit of lowliness and submission.
We are to deny ourselves for the sake of Christ in order to help others.
God resists the proud. He stands against all...
·who look down upon others.
·who feel superior to others.
·who discriminate against others.
·who are prejudiced.
·who are boastful.
·who are haughty.
God opposes the proud—all who oppress others—no matter who.
To “resist” is a picture of an army being set and arrayed against the enemy. Marvin Vincent says “pride calls out God’s armies. No wonder, therefore, that it ‘goeth before destruction’ “ (Word Studies In The New Testament, Vol.1, p.668).
Those who walk upon this earth and exalt themselves above others shall be destroyed by God, but God gives grace to the humble.
The humble person shall bear the fruit of God’s spirit in this life...
·love
·joy
·peace
·longsuffering
·gentleness
·goodness
·faith
·meekness
·self-control
The humble person has the full assurance of being cared for and looked after by God, that God will work all things out for our good while we are on earth and forevermore.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
“Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).
“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
“Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).
“Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephes. 4:1-2).
So lets put away prIde in our lives that we may more effectively walk in the manner that God calls for us to walk and so we may become more effective ministers of the “Good News” of Jesus Christ…
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
