September 9-10, 2006, Proverbs 6:16-19, Selected

WHAT GOD APPLAUDS!
HEALTHY ESTEEM!

TO LIVE MY LIFE FOR AN AUDIENCE OF ONE!

*** Rev. 4:11 "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created." [New Living Translation]
*** Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." [New International Version]
*** Psalm 138:6 "Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud." [NLT]
*** James 4:6 "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." [NIV]

TWO KINDS OF PRIDE:

- CONSTRUCTIVE PRIDE:
- DESTRUCTIVE PRIDE:

WE DEVELOP HEALTHY ESTEEM:
1. BY KNOWING THE DANGERS OF UNHEALTHY ESTEEM!

A. PRIDE PREVENTS ME FROM GROWING!
*** Prov. 26:12 "There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise." [NLT]
*** Proverbs 10:17 "Accept correction, and you will find life; reject correction, and you will miss the road." [Contemporary English Version]

B. PRIDE POISONS MY RELATIONSHIPS!
*** Proverbs 13:10 "Pride leads to arguments; be humble, take advice, and become wise." [Living Bible]
*** Matthew 7:3-5 "Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood in your own eye? How can you say to your friend, 'Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye'? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye." [New Century Version]

C. PRIDE PRODUCES STRESS AND ANXIETY!
*** Proverbs 29:25 "It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe." [Today’s English Version]
*** Proverbs 16:18 "First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall." [Message Bible]

2. BY LEARNING TO BE HUMBLE AND HAPPY!
*** Matthew 5:5 "Those who are humble are happy..." [NCV]
*** Prov. 18:12 "Pride first, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honor." [MB]

A. I ADMIT MY WEAKNESSES HONESTLY!
*** Proverbs 28:13 "A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance." [LB]

If I don't admit my weaknesses, I can't defeat my weaknesses.

*** Galatians 6:3 "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." [NIV]

B. I EVALUATE MY STRENGTHS REALISTICALLY!
*** Romans 12:3 "As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you." [NLT]
*** Galatians 6:4 "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else..." [NIV]

THE PROBLEM WITH COMPARISONS:

- YOU’RE DOING BETTER THAN OTHERS: SUPERIORITY!
-OTHERS ARE DOING BETTER THAN YOU: INFERIORITY!

*** Prov 30:13 "Don't be stuck-up and think you're better than everyone else."

C. I ENJOY MY SUCCESSES GRATEFULLY!
*** I Cor. 4:7 "What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you have accomplished something on your own?" [LB]
*** James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift comes...from the Father..."

D. I SERVE OTHERS UNSELFISHLY!
*** Philippians 2:3-5 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Look not to your own interests, but also the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ." [NIV]

E. I HUMBLE MYSELF VOLUNTARILY!
*** James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." [NIV]

THE WAY UP IS DOWN!

*** Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall."

THE WAY DOWN IS UP!

*** 1 Peter 5:6 "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you." [NLT]

SO...WHY IS IT THAT GOD DESPISES PRIDE AND ARROGANCE SO?

1. IT IS SO UN-GOD-LIKE!

2. IT CAUSES US TO DEPEND ON OURSELVES AND NOT HIM!

3. IT BLOCKS US FROM RECEIVING GOD’S RICHES AND BLESSINGS!

"True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life." - Proverbs 22:4 [NLT]