Proverbs 11:2, 16:19
“When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom.”
“It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
Q: What are the consequences of pride according to these verses?
Pridefulness is dishonoring to Christ, as it raises yourself above Him; it also makes you look unwise to the world.
Psalm 18:27, 25:9
“For You [God] save an afflicted people,
But haughty eyes You abase [lower or humiliate].”
“He [God] leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.”
Q: How does God respond to humble individuals? How does this encourage you to pray for humility?
God leads and teaches humble individuals; He loves to aid the humble. Example: “I’m encouraged because humility comes from God and provide an opportunity to grow closer to Him.”
Picture
John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Q: What are you increasing in your life (socially, athletically, academically, etc.)? How are you allowing God to “increase” in your life that you may “decrease”?
Example 1: “I am trying to increase myself athletically by putting in the extra work to be the best football player.” Example 2: “I am praying that everything in athletics is done for Him, not me, and will give Him the glory for my successes.”
Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Q: Why did Jesus come to serve even though He is God of Creation? How can you live out this verse?
Jesus sacrificed His life so that we may have eternal life and to be the perfect example of love. Example: “I am going to serve my parents better by obeying them, rather than being selfish.”
Paul
Philippians 2:5-8 – “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Q: How did Jesus show humility? How can you adopt the humble attitude of Christ in your life?
Jesus lived life as a human being; he suffered and was tempted as a man. Ultimately, He humbled himself by dying for us. Example: “I will ask myself, ‘How can I sacrifice for others?’”
Peter
1 Peter 5:5 “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Q: What does it mean for us to be subject to our elders? What does it look like to “clothe yourself with humility?” Why does God oppose the proud?
Subject to elders = respecting and obeying elders as well as listening to their guidance.
“Clothe yourself with humility” = start each day asking God to teach you how to be humble.
God opposes the proud because they are planning their lives without him. They boast about their plans for the future and fail to realize it is God’s judgement that awaits them in the future.
APPLICATION: How do these passages relate to me today? What changes do they bring to my life?
LOCKER ROOM: Is there anything this week that you have been enslaved to, and how we can help you?
