The Pride Of Your Heart

Introduction

The message of Obadiah, echoed by Jeremiah (Jer. 49:16), was directed toward the inhabitants of Edom (v. 1), who evidently thought that their nation had attained to such great power that they were invincible. In reality, their prideful attitude had blinded them to their weaknesses, and to the fact that God controls everything (Dan. 4:17).

Is pride a problem today? Can a nation or individual find themselves in a similar situation? Absolutely! The same problems we have today are the same ones our children are going to have, and the same that mankind has always had (Eccl. 1:9). We see in Obadiah that the pride of the Edomites would cost them their lives. In what ways can our own pride deceive us today, and at what cost?

1. Into thinking we are better than others

   1. This is the definition of pride. It is one thing to have self-esteem and a sense of self-worth, but quite another to consider yourself worth more than everyone else.
      1. If we think we are better than others, we will treat ourselves better than others, and place our own interests above anything else. This is the opposite of what God expects (Phi. 2:3).
      2. Some of the most terrible sins, theft, adultery, murder, are a result of putting the desires of self over another.
      3. Let us recognize that God does not consider any one person more valuable than another (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11), so neither should we think ourselves worth more than someone else.
      4. God does not care if we're male or female, black or white, rich or poor, beginner or more advanced, but that we love Him, and each other as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40; Jas. 2:8).
   2. Nobody is perfect (Rom. 3:23), so the higher we try to lift ourselves, the longer and more shameful our fall will be (Pr. 11:2; 16:18; 29:23). We need to let God and others lift us up, and focus on doing the same for others (Lk. 18:14; Eph. 4:29; Jas. 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:6).
   3. Jesus, living sinlessly and therefore perfect (Heb. 4:15), is by far better than everybody else, yet even He considered His own interests as far below those of others, so much so that He suffered the punishment for crimes He did not commit (Matt. 20:28; Mk. 10:45; Phi. 2:5-11).
      1. We should do likewise (Lk. 9:23; Jn. 13:13-16; 1 Pet. 2:21). We need to do what we can for other people, and help and pray for those in need (Matt. 25:34-40; Gal. 6:10; Jas. 5:16), otherwise we have nothing but a dead faith (Jas. 2:14-17).
      2. To help keep this frame of mind, when you find yourself thinking about "me", try recalling what someone else has done for you. Recall what Jesus has done for you (Rom. 5:8).
   4. A world of pride is not a good place in which to live (Tit. 3:3).

2. Into thinking our way is always the right way

   1. Even the wisest of men are wrong sometimes. One who is truly wise will admit his faults, and not try to justify them (Rom. 12:16).
   2. Sometimes we close our minds to different ideas, both religiously and otherwise, because we think we have the right answers.
      1. Even if we really do, being argumentative about it certainly is not going to convince someone else to change their mind (Pr. 13:10; 28:25).
      2. Rather than being ready to aggressively argue our case, we ought to be ready to discuss it calmly. Whether or not something is true has nothing to do with the one presenting the truth. Let the facts speak for themselves.
   3. Let us always be ready to defend what we believe (1 Pet. 3:15), not to win an argument merely to boost our ego (1 Tim. 6:3-5), but to save souls (Jas. 5:20).

3. Into thinking we do not need help

   1. This is one of the more subtle ways that our pride can deceive us. Too often, when problems arise, we convince ourselves that nothing is wrong, or that we can handle the situation without any help.
   2. If we were sufficient of ourselves, God would not extend His help (Pr. 3:5-6; Acts 17:28; 2 Cor. 3:5; Heb. 1:3; 4:16), nor exhort us to help each other (Gal. 6:2). If we did not have a problem with sin, He would not have sent Jesus to die for us (Rom. 3:23; 5:8-10). We're humans, we need help!
   3. It's great when things are going well, but let us not be too prideful to seek guidance when things are not (Heb. 4:16).

4. Into thinking we do not need to change

   1. Change is a part of life, and something which everyone must do at one time or another.
      1. God wants us to change (Lk. 13:3; Acts 2:38-40; Acts 17:30).
      2. Christianity is a life of constant self-improvement (2 Cor. 3:18).
   2. The church in Laodicea thought everything was just fine, and that they needed nothing, yet the Lord describes them as "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:14-22).
   3. Whoever knows the right thing to do, but does not do it (perhaps because of pride), to him it is sin (Jas. 4:17).
   4. Many people change when they realize they are engaging in physically harmful activities. May we also look beyond this life, and do the same when something is spiritually harmful (Matt. 10:28).
   5. It is the pride of the wicked that thinks everything is fine, and that refuses to change when change is needed (Ps. 10:4).
   6. If we think everything is fine, we may need to think again (1 Cor. 10:12).

Conclusion

Just as those in times past, today we can likewise allow pride to cloud our judgment when it comes to our self-image, ours and others' beliefs and ideas, our willingness to change, and letting friends, family, and our God help us out when we need it.

For these reasons, we need to take care not to let the pride of our heart deceive us into losing sight of what is truly important; our friends, our family, our God, and our immortal soul. God hates pride (Pr. 6:16-19), and it will certainly not go unpunished (Pr. 16:5). Let us not trade the eternal for what is passing away (1 Jn. 2:16-17).

The pride of the Edomites had deceived them into thinking they were better than everyone else, they knew what was best, and had need of nothing from God nor anyone else. It cost them their lives. Has the pride of your heart deceived you?