Award Winning GENESIS SCHOOL OF MUSIC

➡️Here’s 10 questions to ask yourself to see if just maybe you’re a little too prideful – maybe you should get your spouse or best friend involved to help you be honest:

1. Do I feel the need to talk about myself? My accomplishments, my awards, my new car, my promotion?
2. Do I see myself better than others?  Because of my gender, my race, my neighborhood, my church.
3. Would people say that I’m “holier than thou”?  Because of my church attendance, my Bible knowledge, my prayer life, maybe my appearance.  
4. Am I defensive?  Do I feel the need to constantly protect who I am, or maybe what I’ve done?
5. Am I jealous?  Is it hard for me to celebrate the accomplishments of others.  If they have it, then it must mean that I can’t. 
6. Do I struggle with being on time?  If I’m constantly late, I am saying that my time is more important than your time.
7. Is it hard for me to take advice?  maybe from a coworker, from a friend, from my spouse.
8. Do I see myself as a victim?  I deserve something, but I’m not getting it.  This often leads to a welfare mentality, I am entitled to what you have.
9. Is it hard for me to say I’m sorry?  Even when I know that I was wrong, is it still hard for me to admit it?
10. Did I answer NO to the last nine questions?

I have to admit that pride is something hard for me to talk about, because I know it’s something that most of us struggle with. If I’m totally honest, I would probably answer yes to all ten questions. I think it’s good to have pride in what we do, or maybe who we are, like having self-respect, but pride is definitely something that the Bible constantly warns us against.  Here’s 5 scriptures:

Proverbs 11:2 – “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom”

Proverbs 29:23 – “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor”

Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”

James 4:6 – “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble”

Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves”. 

Pride was what caused Lucifer to be kicked out of heaven – Ezekiel 28.  Pride is what caused Adam and Eve to be kicked out of the garden – Genesis 3. Pride caused King Saul to be kicked out of the castle – I Samuel 16.  And pride is what will cause us to be kicked out of favor with God – James 4.  

Pride is never, ever a good thing. God hates it. 

Here’s three ways to stay clear of pride:

1. Stay in the Word.  According to Hebrew 4:12, “The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword…judging the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts”.  The Word is like a knife, digging out things in us, like pride, that shouldn’t be there.
2. Serve others.  Back to James 4:6, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”, the servant.  Serving keeps our minds off of ourselves and gets our attention on the needs of others – it’s definitely one of the best antidotes to pride.
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you more like Christ.   Listen to Philippians 2:6-11 – it’s  the story of how Jesus had everything, he was equal to God, but he gave it all up because he was the exact opposite of pride. Here it is: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.

The moment I think I deserve the attention, the saved seat, the microphone, the position, the applause – is the moment God pushes me away – he hates pride, he opposes the proud. Let’s ask God together, right now, to make us more like Christ  – James 4:2 says, “We have not, because we do not ask God”. 

That’s in the Bible, and the Bible is always right.