Lesson 10: Pride (In the Name of Love)

James 4:6 "But he gives us more grace.
That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."

What is pride?

Elevating ourselves above God. Making more of ourselves than we ought. Placing ourselves on a higher level than other people. Sometimes, pride is elusive because we are convinced that we are "helping God" or helping other people, when in reality we are just trying to get our needs met, our way.

This verse tells us that God gives us plenty of grace to overcome our envy, craving for sinful pleasures, and the resulting quarreling that comes from it. He offers us abundant grace to respond in full devotion to Him.

Why does the verse say that we must be humle and never proud to receive God's Grace?

If we are proud, we are still putting ourselves above God and others.
It is impossible to see our sin if we are not humble.
I think that if we truly do receive or dare to comprehend grace from a Holy God, we must be humbled to our own littleness and pettyness in comparison with His majesty and awesomeness.

What does humility before God look like?

James: 7 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands,
you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail.
Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves
before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

Application:
When we are enmeshed in our own pridefulness, selfish desires, and self-seeking attitudes we will be unable to do this. However, as soon as we become WILLING to submit ourselves to God and His Word, the Holy Spirit will enable us to follow Him.

If you are struggling with this, pray for willingness, that God would change your heart about the matter of pride today.

More on the Outward Manifestation of Pride:

James tells us that there are three more ways that Pride and Arrogance show in our lives:
Slander, Boasting, and Oppression.

Slander and the Royal Law

11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Boasting About Tomorrow

13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Warning to Rich Oppressors

James 5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

For Thought and Discussion:

These passages really capture it all. I don't believe we could add a great deal to explaining what James is saying, because he does it so clearly. Perhaps a few application questions though:

Q- What do you think you should do if someone slanders another in your presence?

Q- Do you really believe that when you judge your neighbor you are breaking the Royal Law of God, to love Him with all your heart, mind, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself?

Q-Is it always wrong to make plans for the future? What kinds of planning are wrong? Are you always careful not to boast about these plans?

Q- Have you ever had a position of power and influence that you have wielded over someone else, in order to have your own desires met (for prestige, recognition, honor, etc.)?

Q - Is there anyone to whom you need to be reconciled based on these lessons?