BBDC SS 2-6-11. Wrong thinking causes wrong actions. For example: a party invitation: wrong time
and place; GPS: wrong directions; your doctor recommends..., but wrong results. These are accidents,
not on purpose, and not your fault. They are frustrating, but they aren't sins.
The information was
wrong. So your actions were wrong because of wrong information. Thoughts influence behavior.
BUT if your pride causes you wrong thinking and wrong actions, that is your fault and your sin. You
must humble yourself and confess your sin of pride. In Job 3-31 we saw "if your thinking is wrong,
then your actions will be wrong". Job thought it was right for him to blame and criticize God, and
criticize and judge other people and be angry at them. So that's what Job did. Job also thought it was
okay to think he was 100% innocent and also better than other people. So that was Job's attitude.
We know that Job's thinking was wrong; therefore his actions were wrong. How did God change Job's
behavior? Did God give Job a list of rules to obey or things to do? No. God showed Job his wrong
thinking. God had to change Job's thinking first. Then when Job's heart changed, his behavior could
change. Job had to humble himself and realize that his thinking was wrong and was sinful pride.
The same thing is true of you and me. If your thinking doesn't follow God's truth, then your actions will
not please God.
When your mind is changed by God's Word, then your life will change. Rom. 12:2.
Don't try to change your life by obeying a list of rules. That is what the Pharisees did. And Jesus
criticized them because of it. Jesus said they looked like cups that were clean on the outside but dirty
on the inside. Matt. 23:25-26. God sees your heart and your attitude. Let Him change your heart
and attitude, and your life will show Jesus. That is why in SS we have waited to talk about
"obedience". The foundation of your faith is God's character. If you don't know that God is love,
good, fair, full of grace and mercy, then you won't trust God. You'll complain to God and criticize Him.
You'll judge other people.
The sinful meaning of pride is a wrong attitude about yourself and what God is doing in your life, and
your sinful judging of other people. Pride is thinking you know better than God; you don't need
God or the Bible to teach you; you deserve a better job, life, health, family.... Pride is focus on self,
thinking you don't have to obey the rules. (Examples: speed limit; seat belt law; handicap parking.)
And when you get caught, you blame someone else. Pride is thinking your plan is better than God's--so
God should do things your way.
Pride doesn't only mean "look at me", or bragging. Everything you
have is by God's grace, not by your works. So don't think you are better or inferior to others. Your
pride will block God. That's why the Bible says God is opposed to proud people and He gives grace to
humble people. 1 Pet. 5:5-6. Satan tempts you to be prideful and focused on yourself. Because that
takes your focus off God. Phil. 2:3-4.
Proud is the opposite of humble. What does a humble
person look like? Humble people feel sorry for their sins. They realize how much they need God's
mercy and forgiveness. And they trust in God's willingness and power to give them mercy when they
ask God for it. They ask God to forgive their sin of pride. They apologize to people they have hurt.
They depend on God, not on themselves.
These are a few examples of pride.
Where did pride start? With Satan. In Isa. 14:13, 14 Satan said, "I will make myself like the Most High
God." In 1 Jn. 2:16 John says that pride is not from God; pride is from the world, which is ruled by
Satan. God loves you and doesn't want you to follow Satan's prideful ways. So if you are prideful,
God knows how to cause you to become humble. A good example is King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
In Dan. 4:30 the king said, "This is the great Babylon, which I have built by my power and for my glory."
Immediately God caused the king to be driven away from people, and the king ate grass like cows do.
4:31-32. At the end of his punishment, the king raised his eyes toward heaven (God), and God
restored the king. The king praised God and said "God is able to change people who are prideful.
God can cause them to become humble." Dan. 4:33-37. Proverbs 16:18 says pride comes before a
fall. The king's pride caused him to fall in importance and power. Proverbs 11:2 says pride comes with
shame and embarrassment. But humility brings wisdom. God allows trouble to happen to you so
you will turn back to Him. Ps. 119:71, 67. So ask God to show you your sinful attitude. Get rid of
your prideful thinking. Let the Bible change your wrong thinking to right thinking. Continue to live
with a humble attitude. Then your actions and behavior will change.