Pride vs Humility

Watch this clip -->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x91iciAYcw0<--

Opening thought: Many times we live our lives and approach God as though we are the captain of the USS Montana. We allow our pride to keep us from changing course spiritually. Pride is a serious sin and if we allow our pride to control us we can end up opposing God.

Pride in our hearts is  the opposite of humility and and is a serious sin that we sometimes overlook. Almost every sin has its roots in pride in one way or another. In order to combat pride in our lives we must learn humility.

• In what ways has pride (lack of humility) affected your job, marriage or other close relationships?

1 Peter 5: 6-7

 ⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

   "God opposes the proud 
   but shows favor to the humble."^[a]

 ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

• Why does God say that we should cloth ourselves with humility? What does it mean to cloth your self?
  

1. We put on what we want to wear in the morning and like wise we have to make a conscious decision to put on humility.
2. Unclothed we are spiritually naked and left to our sinful nature which is pride.

• It says God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Have you ever felt like God was opposing you?

• What does it mean in Vs. 6 when it says "Humble your selves under Gods mighty hand"
  

1. Possessing humility or surrendering to God allows us to put our lives in Gods hands.
2. Holding on to our pride causes separation from God and keeps us from finding favor (blessings) in him.

• Does humility mean instant favor or blessings?
  

1. Vs. 6 says in due time. On Gods timeline and not our own. Another aspect of humbly submitting to God in our lives.

Closing thoughts: Don't be fooled by mistaking false humility for true humility. True humility is not just "white knuckling it" or just bearing through life. True humility is complete surrender to God and his will. God uses the humble...when we make the decision to submit to his authority and let go of our pride God is able to use us to accomplish his will.