Overcoming Pride in Your Life
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Do you think you are prideful?
The truth is that all of us are. All of us have pride to some degree. We have discussed the issue of pride in a previous lesson, but this particular block of lessons makes it ideal for us to return to the subject.
Why is pride a problem?
The Big Question
This is an important question for each of us to answer. This is especially true for men. Over the last decade, there has been an attack on manhood. “Toxic masculinity” has become a buzzword to convince men that acting like a man is somehow wrong.
There is some merit to this belief. However, the issue is not about being masculine. The problem is related to pride.
How do you think that men show pride?
How do you think that could be negative?
How Would You Define Pride?
To get a handle on this issue, let’s discuss what it means to have pride. How would you describe pride?
The dictionary tells us that it is a sense of one’s own value or dignity. To have self-respect. Pride also means finding pleasure or satisfaction in an achievement. However, it can also mean to be arrogant or treat others with disdain, usually viewing others as “less” than them.
This is where pride becomes an issue. When you view others as beneath you, then your pride is a problem. Why do you think this is?
Philippians 2:3 explains, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
How does God want us to view and treat others?
How does pride interfere with that?
How do you think viewing others above yourself limits your pride?
Why Do We Have Pride?
How would you answer the question: Why do we have pride?
Let’s return to James 4:1-5: 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
According to these verses, what is the source of pride?
What are things that cause you to be prideful?
Pride is often rooted in a desire to feel superior to others. We constantly judge ourselves in comparison to others. Why do you think this could be a problem?
What should you compare yourself to?
The truth is that there are only two persons you should compare yourself to: Jesus and yourself. How close are you to getting to be like Jesus? This is where you need to begin. You also need to ask yourself how far you are moving in your own journey? Are you the same person you were one week ago? Are your worldview and your actions significantly different from what they were a year ago?
Is Pride Always Bad?
We want you to understand something important. Pride is not always bad. God wants you to have a sense of value. He wants you to see that you matter. He also wants you to find satisfaction in your accomplishments. God wants you using your skills to help you, your family, your church, and your community.
What skills has God given you that you excel in?
What are the spiritual gifts God has given you?
God wants you to use these gifts for His glory. He has no issue with you seeing that you may be better than someone in your skill. The concern is when you see yourself as having more value than others. Can you explain the difference between being better at a skill versus having more value than someone else?
Why is it an issue that you would see yourself as having more value?
Perfectly Designed him him
Keep in mind that all people have value. All people are perfectly designed by the Creator of all things. When you see people as “lesser” than you, that is when pride becomes an issue.
Proverbs 16:18 tells us: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
How do you think God wants you to live your life? Are you willing to live your life in that way?
