Bible Text: 1 Peter 5:5-7 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: 1 Peter, Authority and Humility

Pride is the essential sin of Satan (see the 5 “I wills” in Isaiah 14:12-14, a passage commonly thought to be speaking about Satan’s fall). Pride led to the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). Pride leads to:

-shame and disgrace (Prov. 11:2)

-contention and quarrels (Prov . 13:10)

-destruction (Prov. 15:25; 16:5,18)

-contempt and rejection of God’s Word and His ministers (Jer. 43:2)

-self-deception (Jer. 49:16)

“Most fights aren’t about policy and principle, or about right and wrong; they’re almost always about pride. The wise man of Proverbs swings his axe at the toot of the problem when he writes: “Pride leads to conflict’ (13:10 NLT). Quarrels are fueled by pride, by needing to be right, by wanting our way, or by defending our turf or our egos. On the other side, wisdom resides with the well-advised—those who listen and learn, those who allow themselves to be instructed. There is wisdom in those who humble themselves—those who set aside their own selfish ambition; who acknowledge the limits of their own understanding; who listen to the other person’s point of view; who allow their own ideas to be corrected. This is the wisdom from God that spreads peace wherever it goes.” (Daily Bread, September 12, 2015)

Sources of pride: our gifts, talents (1 Cor. 4:6,7); knowledge (1 Cor. 8:1); comparing ourselves with others (2 Cor. 10:12,18); position (1 Tim. 3:6); and riches (1 Tim. 6:17).

Pride exhibits itself in: both a low view of self (sometimes called an “inferiority complex”) and a high view of self (sometimes called a “superiority complex”), both views make us incapable of ministry to others because we are trying to prove we are as good as or better than others; an attitude that I always know what is best; in manipulating others to do things my way; and in being a poor listener.

Jeremiah give us a proper reason for pride in 9:23,24: not in our wisdom, or in our riches, nor in our strength, but in the fact that we understand and know the Lord.