Humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 29:23 NLT

Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

James 4:1-10 NLT

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?  But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

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Somewhere in the early 1980's I spoke in an evening church service to Cowden Lake Bible Church and the text of my talk was James chapter 4 verses 7-10.
About 30 years later I'm still learning this lesson. The way up is down. The verse in Proverbs this morning reminded me of that first sermon I'd preached as a teen.

The problem is that we don't believe it is true. We don't trust God.

Let me first remind you that it is first and foremost that you are to humble yourself before God. It is in the sight of God that you are to bend the knee. It should be easy, but we are head strong fools.

James points the finger and says with authority your problems are rooted in your pride. It is your pride that fuels your greed.  It is your pride that encourages your envy. Your pride causes you to harm your fellow man. Our pride tricks us into esteeming the praise of men more highly than the opinion of God, making us his enemy.
It is pride that convinces us that we know better than God. We'd stop the suffering, we'd heal the sick and lame and help the poor. If we were God, the world would be a better place. We'd rule it like we do our own little world. We'd bring order to everything. We'd be just. We'd judge the wicked.

Haven't you thought you knew what to do. Have you sat in judgement over your friend, family, or fellow christian? Haven't you spoke with confidence that you knew better than all the corrupt politicians? Haven't you laughed at the foolishness of the rich and famous because of course you'd not be as stupid?

Can't you see your pride?

(Of course you just need to be more assertive. You only need to speak up. You just need to take charge. You need to give people a piece of your mind. All you need to do is show them all how it is done.)

Listen to your heart. Hear your pride.

God is good. William is not good.
God is faithful and William is unfaithful.
God is just and William is unjust.
God is kind and William is unkind.

We need to see ourselves as we are before God.

We need to confess or pride and sin and praise God for his forgiveness.

Jesus humbled himself! Though he had no sin. Jesus humbled himself though he had all power. Jesus humbled himself though his plan is the most prefect plan. Jesus humbled himself though he had wealth beyond comprehension.

You and I are not greater than Jesus. So how can we too not so much more humble ourselves?

Take a good look at Jesus. Take a look at yourself.

Now get on your knees in humility and confess, repent and praise God Almighty righteous and good.

So do you agree that the highest purpose is praise and the biggest problem is pride?

Your feedback would be appreciated.
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