PRIDE - A DEADLY DISEASE!
Pride is a sickness of the soul.
"Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:4
CausesSymptoms, SignsExamination, Investigation Treatment and Prognosis
Predisposing factors that could cause pride:
Physical beauty, strength, talents and skills, intelligence,
achievements, knowledge, education,
riches and positions.
These can cause unrealistic high self esteem and self exaltation.
Thus says the Lord:
"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight," says the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
I must glory only in the LORD.
Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--
is not of the Father but is of the world.
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it;
but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17
I must not seek to glory in the things of the world.
Now concerning things offered to idols:
We know that we all have knowledge.
Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
1 Corinthians 8:1
I should not glory in my knowledge.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood,
through faith,
to demonstrate His righteousness,
because in His forbearance
God had passed over the sins
that were previously committed,
to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness,
that He might be just and the justifier of the one
who has faith in Jesus.
Where is boasting then?
It is excluded. By what law? Of works?
No, but by the law of faith.
Romans 3:23-27
Romans 3:23-27
I cannot boast about my spiritual salvation
because it is the gift of grace received by faith.
This is a faithful saying:
If a man desires the position of a bishop,
he desires a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless,
the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded,
of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
not given to wine, not violent,
not greedy for money, but gentle,
not quarrelsome, not covetous;
one who rules his own house well,
having his children in submission
with all reverence
(for if a man does not know
how to rule his own house,
how will he take care of the church of God?);
not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride
he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
1 Timothy 3:1-6
I must not be proud of my Christian leadership roles.
Symptoms of pride
carrying a low opinion of others
and difficulty in honouring others.
Quick temper and lack of patience.
Lack of value for people and things, resulting in despising them.
No desire to help others.
No gratitude.
Lacking joy.
Stressed about various things.
Desire to stand out different to others.
Feel embarrassed if found to be similar to someone
in appearance or clothing especially those of lower social standing.
If I experience any of the above symptoms, I must take time to consult my GP - The Great Physician, regarding this.
Signs of Pride
Dishonours others in speech and action.
Does not acknowledge the good in others.
Critical and judgmental.
Stressed and agitated.
Gives no time for others.
Difficulty in relating to the poor and to children.
Selfish.
Self sufficient and doesn't easily ask for help.
Callous with the property of others.
Does not make an effort to listen to or understand others.
Does not make an effort to relate to people who are different.
Will reach out and help, if noticed by others.
If I observe the above signs in myself, I must go to GOD
and be completely open before Him. I must repent
and ask the LORD to forgive me. I must make the effort
to humble myself.
If I observe these signs in an individual, I must pray for him/ her,
asking the LORD's gracious forgiveness and a change of heart.
I must not take it upon myself to see that individual humbled
by my words or actions or attitude, which has the risk of then
pumping me up with pride!
Examining Myself
Observe reactions and responses while having a conversation.
Am I more eager to speak than to listen?
When someone drops something, am I quick to bend low
to pick up?
observe response to a need around ..like a child having a fall.
How quick am I to respond?
Observe reaction to a hint of criticism -
Do I react defensive and angry?
I must spend time in the presence of the LORD with His word,
with an open mind and heart, allowing Him to examine me
and bring conviction of sin.
Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest,
lest anyone fall according to the same example
of disobedience.
For the word of God is living and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,
and of joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight,
but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him
to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:11-13
Investigation
I must diligently study and learn the word to understand
the cause of my pride.
I must check my motives by asking myself,
"Why am I doing this or why do I hold this position?" or
"Why do I desire to have or purchase this thing?
I should also check my attitudes while in the LORD's presence.
Treatment
Spending time with GOD and His word will help me to understand
the greatness of GOD. I will realise I have nothing to boast.
All that I am and all that I have are gracious gifts from Him.
I must then repent of my pride and ask the LORD for forgiveness
and turn from my evil ways.
I must also put my relationships with others right,
even with those whom I may have offended, by humbling myself
and asking for forgiveness if appropriate.
Like most treatment processes, the treatment for pride
is also not pleasant and can be somewhat painful,
but brings a good result.
And you have forgotten the exhortation
which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives."
If you endure chastening,
God deals with you as with sons;
for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
But if you are without chastening,
of which all have become partakers,
then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Furthermore,
we have had human fathers who corrected us,
and we paid them respect.
Shall we not much more readily be in subjection
to the Father of spirits and live?
For they indeed for a few days chastened us
as seemed best to them, but He for our profit,
that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless, afterward
it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:5-11
Let nothing be done
through selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out
not only for his own interests,
but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God,
did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
and given Him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, and of those on earth,
and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:3-11
Prevention
The fear of the LORD will keep me from pride.
"For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,"
Says the Lord of hosts,
"That will leave them neither root nor branch.
But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
Malachi 4:1-2
I ought to constantly learn about the greatness of GOD
and praise and exalt Him.
I should train myself to seek the LORD each morning and
connect with Him through the day to check
the motives of my mind and the attitudes of my heart
to keep humility.
I must walk in submission and obedience to the LORD.
I must submit to others and especially to those older
and have authority over me.
Whatever knowledge I gain in my mind, should be prayed through
into my heart as love, and followed through as actions of love.
When I take to the LORD whatever information I gather,
He helps me to see it in the right perspective. If it sits in my head
as knowledge and opinions, it will puff me up. If it is converted
into love through prayer, it will edify me, and others through me!
I must recognise the fact that all I am and all I have are
gracious gifts from the LORD and thank the LORD and develop
an attitude of gratitude to GOD.
I should develop the habit of thanking others for their acts of
kindness and gifts.
I must look for something good in others and honour them.
Eat simple, dress simple, live simple and associate with simple
and humble people!
Prognosis - Healing and Restoration
With the LORD treating us, there is hope of a 100% restoration!
And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar,
lifted my eyes to heaven,
and my understanding returned to me;
and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him
who lives forever:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him,
"What have You done?"
At the same time my reason returned to me,
and for the glory of my kingdom,
my honor and splendor returned to me.
My counselors and nobles resorted to me,
I was restored to my kingdom,
and excellent majesty was added to me.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor
the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth,
and His ways justice.
And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
Daniel 4:34-37
