Jul. 29, 2026

Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight for Bible study. We will begin with Obadiah 1:1-4 as an introduction to a broader topic: Pride and Its Consequences. Notes are attached. 

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

JULY 29, 2026

Obadiah 1:1-4

(and other Scripture)

Pride and Its Consequences

1 The vision of Obadiah.

Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom:

We have heard a report from the LORD,

and a messenger has been sent among the nations:

“Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”

2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations;

you shall be utterly despised.

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,

you who live in the clefts of the rock,

in your lofty dwelling,

who say in your heart,

“Who will bring me down to the ground?”

4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle,

though your nest is set among the stars,

from there I will bring you down,

declares the LORD.

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Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

—Proverbs 16:18

What is (sinful) pride? The worship, the exhalation of self—particular in regards to others.

There are many ways, using different words and phrases, that pride is depicted.

“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,

adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these

evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”—Mark 7:21-23

pride – huperéphania, lit. excessive shining; haughtiness, vanity, conceit

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of

life—is not from the Father but is from the world.—1 John 2:16

“pride” of life – alazoneia, bragging, boasting; from alazón – boaster, braggart, windbag

Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one

who acts in pride [ga`avah].—Psalm 31:23

“And the haughtiness [gabhuwth] of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride [ruwm] of men

shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.”—Isaiah 2:17

2

We (and the Bible) also use the word in an affirming sense, as in “Take pride in your work” or “My

spouse is the pride of my life.”

“I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord …” –

1 Corinthians 15:31

“pride” – kauchesis - glorying, boasting, rejoicing (typically in another)

“I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride [kauchesis] in you; I am filled

with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.”—2 Corinthians 7:4

“He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.”—Psalm 47:4

This kind of pride is typically an expression of how blessed we are by, or how we are thankful

for, and rejoice in, someone or something other than ourselves.

Some examples of (sinful) pride:

The “Rich Fool” – Luke 12:16-32 – the pride of foolish worldliness

The rich man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19-31– the pride of entitlement and indifference

Herod’s death – Acts 12:19-23 – The pride of accepting praise that should be for God; also

Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28-32

The Pharisee’s reaction to Jesus’ anointing by the sinful woman – Luke 7:36-50 – The pride of

self-righteousness

The Pharisee and the tax collector – Luke 18:9-14 – More of the pride of self-righteousness

Pharisees in general – the pride of self-righteousness, trust in one’s own religious practices, false

reverence unto God, false humility

(related to false humility: “Now, I’m just a simple ole boy …”

Sadducees – very “connected,” liberal, arrogant; elitism

The pride of “broadmindedness”

“And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of

your fellowship the man who has been doing this?”—1 Corinthians 5:2

Pridefulness is not OK. God opposes it. He does not condone it.

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows

favor to the humble.’”—James 4:6

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves,

lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,

treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of

godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”—2 Timothy 3:1-5

It is a sin, perhaps the core sin, of Satan — Isaiah 14:12-15

Humility

Like Christ, placing others before ourselves – Philippians 2:1-5

It does not mean we must hate ourselves or deny the talents and abilities that God has given to us

It means, however, to recognize that the “world does not revolve around us.”

It means that treat others as we would like to be treated.

And it means worship, obedience, and submission unto God.

In short, humbling ourselves imitates Christ, and being prideful imitates the devil.

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It’s a very big topic—but this teaching would seem to extend to nations as well as to individuals. And

also to churches.