Pride, Selfishness, and Covetousness

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God’s Estimate of Pride

 

How does the Lord regard pride?

 

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush to evil, a false witness who pours out lies, a man who stirs up dissention among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19.  

 

What is God’s attitude toward the proud?

 

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6. (See Psalms 40:4; 101:6; 1 Timothy 6:4.)

 

What Pride Is

 

Why should we not indulge in pride?

 

“Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.” Proverbs 21:4.

 

What is to be of the sins of the last days?

 

“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.” 2 Timothy 3:2.

 

The Results of Pride

 

Of what is pride a forerunner?

 

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18.

(See Proverbs 29:23.)   

 

What was the cause of Satan’s downfall?

 

“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom, because of your splendor.” Ezekiel 28:17.

 

How are the proud now generally regarded?

 

“Now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.” Malachi 3:15. 

 

What is to the fate of the proud in the Great Tribulation coming real soon?

 

“Surely the day coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 4:1. 

 

The Commandments and Selfishness

 

What great commandment, if kept, will exclude selfishness?

 

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39.

 

What sin is forbidden by the tenth commandment?

 

“You shall not covet your neighbor house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17.

 

How are we admonished with regard to selfishness?

 

“Nobody should seek his own goods, but the good of others.” 1 Corinthians 10:24. “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.” Philippians 2:4. “Even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:33. “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” Romans 15:2.    

 

Self-Seeking, Yesterday and Today

 

How prevalent is the sin of self-seeking?

 

“For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 2:21. 

 

What sins are to characterize the last days?

 

“People will be lovers of themselves.” 2 Timothy 3:2.  

 

The Cure for Selfishness

 

What does love not do?

 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.” 1 Corinthians 13:4,5.

 

What example of unselfishness did Christ leave for us?

 

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9. 

“But even Christ did not please himself but, as it was written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” Romans 15:3. (See also 1 John 3:17.)

 

The Nature of Covetousness

 

What warning did Christ give concerning covetousness?

 

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15.  

 

What commandment forbids this sin?

 

“You shall not covet.” Exodus 20:17. 

 

What does Paul call covetousness?

 

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthy nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5. 

 

What do these sins bring upon mankind?

 

“Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” Verse 6.

 

What double service did Christ say is impossible.”

 

“You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:13. 

 

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