Pride & Humility - Lesson 8: Conclusion

Pride & Humility

Lesson 8: Conclusion

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

The Main Points for This Lesson:

The main purpose of this series of lessons on pride and humility is to emphasize what God has shown us – that he resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. These lessons should help show what pride and humility are, how they appear in our own lives, and what the end result of each is, encouraging and exhorting us to put off pride and clothe ourselves with humility.

In the first lesson, we gave simple definitions for pride and humility. Pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than is right and true. Humility is thinking rightly of ourselves in the sight of (or in relation to) God the Father Almighty and his son Jesus Christ, our lord.

Pride and humility appear in different forms. Pride shows itself in not listening, in an unwillingness to repent and confess sins, in exalting yourself over other people, and in exalting yourself over God, whether through boasting or disobedience. Humility shows itself in a willingness to listen to advice and counsel, in a contrite heart as it repents of and confesses its sin, in meekness, love and service to others, including those who are counted (by the world) lower than yourself. It shows itself in a joyful and faithful obedience to God.

This last lesson is to remind us once more that God resists (or is opposed to) the proud and gives grace to the humble. If you want God to be against you, you only need to be proud. On the other hand, God promises to give grace to those who are humble in heart, mind and actions.

Suggestions:

To open the lesson, pray for the teacher and the students.

Let the children know that we are now having a few lessons on pride and humility. This is important because God has said in his word, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

In this lesson, we will give a conclusion to pride and humility.

Let the children know that you will read to them the story of King Ahab and his pride and humility.

Read the story of Ahab in 1 Kings 21:16-29. You may need to remind the children how Jezebel (Ahab's wife) killed Naboth to get his vineyard, and how Ahab was happy to get the vineyard. That leads up to the beginning of this story about Ahab and Elijah.

As you read the story, or when you are done, you could ask the children some questions. How was Ahab proud? (He disobeyed God in the sight of God.) What message did God send to Ahab through Elijah the prophet? (God would bring great evil upon Ahab and his family.) What did Ahab do when he heard this message? (He listened and humbled himself.) What did God do when he saw that Ahab had humbled himself? (He showed some mercy to Ahab, by postponing the evil he said he would bring.)

Ask the children, why would God show mercy to such a wicked man as Ahab? (Help them to come to the answer that God has said that he is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.)

To close the lesson, pray with the children and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

1 Kings 21:16-29 [16] When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. [17] Yahweh’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [18] “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. [19] You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours.”’” [20] Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh. [21] Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel. [22] I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah for the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger, and have made Israel to sin.” [23] Yahweh also spoke of Jezebel, saying, “The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel. [24] The dogs will eat he who dies of Ahab in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat he who dies in the field.” [25] But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. [26] He did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel. [27] When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. [28] Yahweh’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [29] “See how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son’s days will I bring the evil on his house.”

God had promised great evil to come upon Ahab and his family. Who was like Ahab (1 Kings 21:25), who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord? When Ahab heard this sentence from God spoken by Elijah, he went and humbled himself. God saw how even this wicked man Ahab humbled himself, and he gave some measure of grace to Ahab.

More Stories and Examples:

Other Verses:

Psalm 131:1-3 [1] Yahweh, my heart isn’t haughty, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me. [2] Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. [3] Israel, hope in Yahweh, from this time forward and forever more.

James 4:6-10 [6] But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” [7] Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:5-7 [5] Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” [6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; [7] casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.