OBC ATT 4
ATTITUDES OF THE HEART NOV / DEC 2007
LESSON FOUR
Attitudes: Pride and Selfishness
The attitudes of pride and selfishness are similar. Consider the definitions:
Pride is the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself.
Selfishness is concern chiefly for one’s own personal profit or pleasure at the expense of others.
Look at the attitude of Jesus. Do you note pride or selfishness in his attitude?
"He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of
the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him." (John 7:18)
The attitude of pride:
1. Most people know some variation of the following proverb, but many fail to quote it correctly.
Write Proverbs 16:18.
2. Proverbs 18:12, "Before _______________ the heart of a man is _______________, And before honor is _______________."
Are pride and a haughty attitude the same?
3. According to Proverbs 21:4, what does God consider "a haughty look" and "a proud heart?"
4. In Proverbs 11:2, what comes with pride?
What comes with the humble?
Define humble.
5. Proverbs 29:23, "A man's _______ will bring him ____, But the ________ in spirit will retain honor."
6. How does God refer to ALL who are proud in heart in Proverbs 16:5?
Will any go unpunished who are proud in heart?
Does this mean that one who has an attitude of pride can never receive forgiveness?
7. 1 John 2:15-16, "Do not _____ the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the ______, the _____ of the _______ is ___ in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the ______, the lust of the _____, and the ______ of life -- is ___ of the ________ but is of the world."
8. James 4:6-7, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God _______ the ______ , But gives grace to the ___________.’ Therefore ______ to ____. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
9. What is the definition of submit?
Will one who is proud submit to God?
10. Romans 12:16, "Be of the ______ mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but ___________ with the ___________. Do ____ be wise in ______ ____ __________."
11. Discuss the two individuals in Luke 18:9-14 in regard to pride and humility.
The Attitude of Selfishness:
12. Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh. Is selfishness in this list of sins?
What is said about those who practice the sins listed?
13. James 3:14-16 speaks of envy and self-seeking in hearts. Does this type wisdom come from God or from elsewhere?
Where envy and self-seeking exist, what will also be there?
14. Philippians 2:3 - 4, "Let _________ be done through _________ ambition or _________, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem _______ better than himself. Let each of you look out ____ _____ for his own interests, ___ ____ for the interests of ________."
15. What is the first sin mentioned in the lengthy list of sins in 2 Timothy 3:2-5 ?
16. In Romans 2:8-9, what does God say will happen to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness?
17. Greed is another form of selfishness. According to 1 Timothy 6:10, what is a root of all kinds of evil?
What results from this greed?
18. Read 2 Corinthians 5:15. If we live for Christ who died for us, can we continue to live for ourselves?
Contrast living for self and living for Christ.
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26)