1 Corinthians 4:1 – 5
Faithful Servants
1 Corinthians 4:6 – 8
Pride comes before the Fall
1 Corinthians 4:9 – 13
Paul’s Witness to Humility
1.) 3 Sneaky Symptoms of Pride (6 – 7)
Pride flows out of our cultural/nature – in that it elevates self-worth and diminishes God-worth.
6
Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos [Servants] for your benefit,
so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” [Purpose]
Then you will not be puffed up [*] in being a follower of one of us over against the other. [Consequence]
[3 Sneaky Symptoms of Pride:]
1. [Pride’s Impotence]: 7 For who makes you different from anyone else?
2. [Pride’s Poverty]: What do you have that you did not receive?
3. [Pride’s Bag of Wind]: And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
2.) 3 Deadly Deceptions of the Fall (8)
The current benefits and reward of redemption are tarnished by the deadly deceptions of pride.
[3 Deadly Deceptions of the Fall:]
1.) 8 Already you have all you want! [Contentment in rather than advancement of the Christian life]
2.) Already you have become rich! [Personal gifting rather than Kingdom gaining]
3.) You have begun to reign [Prideful Ignorance rather than Humble Assurance]
—and that without us!
How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
Does Pride come before the Fall?
Genesis 3:1 – 7
“God helps those who help themselves.”
“This, too, shall pass.”
“Yea, verily, God wants you to be happy.”
“If you work hard enough, you’ll be successful.”
“Pride comes before the fall.”
1
Proverbs 16:18 – 19
18
Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
Isaiah 14:12 – 15
12
Shining morning star,
how you have fallen from the heavens!
You destroyer of nations,
you have been cut down to the ground.
13
You said to yourself:
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will set up my throne
above the stars of God.
I will sit on the mount of the gods’ assembly,
in the remotest parts of the North.
14
I will ascend above the highest clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
15
But you will be brought down to Sheol
into the deepest regions of the Pit.
Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild
animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the
woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any
tree in the garden’?”
2
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit
from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the
tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must
not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
4
“No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman.
5
“In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will
be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and
evil.” 6 Then the woman saw that the tree was good for
food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable
for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and
ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with
her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were
opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed
fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Jonathan Edward’s
7 Sneaky Symptoms of Pride:
1. Faulty Fred: Filters out evil in himself; Filters out God’s goodness in others. The Plank and the Eye
2. Harsh Harry: Demands the Highest Penalty for the Pettiest Infraction. The Unmerciful Servant
3. Superficial Suzy: Fights public sin; wallows in private sin. The Dirty Cup
4. Defensive Dan: Cannot take correction… from anyone. Quick listening, Slow speaking
5. Selfie-stick Stu: Craves Attention like a drug… The Rewardless
6. Clicky Carol: Prefers some people over others [think race in ZA]. Every tribe and tongue
7. Presumptive Pam: Arrogance (thinks she’s sinless) or ignorance (thinks she’s sin-filled) in approach to God.
7 Winning Ways to Fight Pride
1. Faulty Fred: Focus on the Attributes of God. Our God
2. Harsh Harry: Remember the price paid on Calvary. One’s Saviour
3. Superficial Suzy: Focus on Jesus; The sinfulness of sin as demonstrated in the death of Christ. Our sin
4. Defensive Dan: Receive criticism from all. You’re part of a community… for your own good. Our church
5. Selfie-stick Stu: Renounce praise which isn’t pointed to Christ. Remember who gifted you. Our Spirit
6. Clicky Carol: Think about heaven. Think about Jesus. Think about your brothers and sisters. Our Future
7. Presumptive Pam: Right size yourself before God. Our God