The Danger of Spiritual Pride Shown Through King Amaziah of Judah's Life - Finishing Well - Part III

The danger of spiritual pride is shown well through the disappointing life of Amaziah, King of Judah in 2 Chronicles 25 (also 2 Kings 14). When Amaziah had his victory over the Edomites, he became very proud. Success can be dangerous because it can lead to pride. Sometimes it’s God’s grace that we’re not more successful. Amaziah defeated the Edomites, but then took their idols and started worshiping them: “14 After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them. 15 Therefore the LORD was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?” 16 But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

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00:00 Sermon Lessons for the Dangers of Spiritual Pride

00:43 Lesson 1: These kings reveal it’s hard to finish well:
• Example 1: Solomon (1 Kings 11:4, Job 12:12).
• Example 2: Saul (1 Samuel 31).
• Example 3: Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:12-19).
• Example 4: Asa (2 Chronicles 14:8-15, 16:1-12).
• Example 5: Joash (2 Chronicles 24).
• Example 6: Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26).

00:59 • Example 7: ______________ (2 Chronicles 25).

13:28 Lesson 2: ________ ___________ trust God with their finances (2 Chronicles 25:9).

21:37 Lesson 3: ____________________ and __________________ are not always evidence of obedience (2 Chronicles 25:10 cf. 25:13).

Lesson 4: pride blinds us to:
34:15 • (Part one) ____________________ (2 Chronicles 25:16, Proverbs 13:18, 15:10, 16:18, 29:1).

43:40 • (Part two) ______________ (2 Chronicles 25:17-19).

Family Worship Guide for the Danger of Spiritual Pride

Day 1: Read 2 Chronicles 25:1-4 and discuss: who was Amaziah’s father and what happened to him? Why was it a sign of faith when Amaziah didn’t execute the sons of the men who murdered his father? What do you think it means that Amaziah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not with a whole heart? What application does this have for us?

Day 2: Read 2 Chronicles 25:5-13 and discuss: why did the prophet tell Amaziah not to use the mercenaries from Israel? What was Amaziah’s greatest concern when the prophet told him to send the mercenaries home? What does it mean to trust God with our finances? How do we leave our finances in his hands? Why aren’t prosperity and suffering evidence of obedience or disobedience?

Day 3: Read 2 Chronicles 25:14-29 and discuss: why did Amaziah become proud? What terribly foolish thing did Amaziah do? Why does pride blind us to correction, or at least cause us to respond poorly to it? How does pride blind us to reality? Can you think of other examples in Scripture of people who suffered because of their pride?