Episode  Title: The Big House

Lesson Title: The Pride of Fife

Biblical Theme:  Pride

 

Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

For most of us, pride is a blindfold that keeps us from seeing stumbling blocks.  With pride as our guide, we claim all the credit, disown any weaknesses and thus become ripe for a fall. After an accomplishment, it’s normal to feel elated, but God deserves the glory.  When the Holy Spirit fills us, we see the world’s rewards as a cheap substitute for God’s glory.  You should take pride in mainly one thing, Jesus thought you important enough to die for.

 

Parable: The Moral of Mayberry…

This episode, pride ruled the roost, and Barney strutted like a rooster.  Meanwhile, the hen house was full of foxes.  Barney proudly talked the talk, as Andy humbly walked the walk.  As did the crooks, who strolled out of their cells three times!  For Barney, life at “the Rock” was a pride-filled fiasco-not that he learned his lesson.  Briefly describe how each person dealt with pride.

Andy:   held humility and integrity over pride.

Barney:  wore pride like a badge over both eyes.

Gomer:  humbly pleased to be Barney’s assistant.

Prisoners:  arrogant about outsmarting Barney.

Lawmen:  suffered the effects of Barney’s pride.

 

What is your most recent accomplishment?  How did it glorify God?

Personal Response:

 

 

Pride is hard on a person.  It distorts vision, confuses balance and trips us up. While proud people put themselves above others, which only makes for a longer fall, humble folks receive grace.  Read James 4:6. Compare how Andy and Barney dealt with the crooks, and how the crooks dealt with them.

 

What did Barney see in the situation with the crooks?  What opportunity did Andy see?

Barney saw a chance to gain worldly respect.  Andy simply saw a chance to do his duty.

 

What made Barney easy to manipulate?  How could he guard against his weakness?

Barney was prideful, and insecure.  He cared what the criminals thought of him!  If he didn’t care what the world thought of him, he wouldn’t feel the need for its approval.

 

Pride tells us we can do anything we want and that we’re too good to do things we don’t.  Yet, no matter what reason we give, the Lord judges us by our deeds.  Read 1rst. Samuel 2:3. By comparison, the humble often do as asked simply to serve.  Consider Barney and Gomer and the Christmas lights.

 

Between Barney and Gomer, how did each deal with the Christmas lights?  For each, why?

Barney thought he had better things to do. Gomer did the thing that was asked of him.

 

The lesson of pride is taught by disgrace.  Read Proverbs 11:2.  For the proud, humiliation is a stern but ever-ready taskmaster.  You can avoid this correction if you turn from your self-centered desires.  Release from self-satisfaction comes when you put self after God and others. Humility brings wisdom.

 

Why did Andy congratulate Barney at the end?  Did he do harm or good?

Andy let Barney save face.  But being spared humiliation kept him from learning a lesson.

 

Reflection: At The Fishing Hole…

Galatians 6:4  Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.

 

Pride makes us slaves to comparison.  It forces us to size up others, the less fortunate, the better for pride.  However, whether wealth, prestige, or power, you don’t have anything that wasn’t given to you by God.  Read 1rst.  Corinthians 4:7.   Next time you want to compare, compare yourself to Jesus Christ.  His humility will inspire you to reject pride so that you can receive honor.  Read Proverbs 29:23.  And each time you fall short of glory, his love will comfort and encourage you still.

 

Like Barney , have you had something to prove to someone?  Give an example.

Personal Response.

 

Like Gomer, have you taken pride in how well you serve?  Give an example.

Personal Response.

 

The two officers got blindsided by pride in the form of Deputy Fife.  Barney was too focused on himself to pay attention to them.  Pride in you is dangerous because of the damage you can do to others.  Instead you should fear the Lord, then you will hate all evil behavior. Read Proverbs 8:13. 

 

Like the officers, have you been hurt by another’s prideful actions?  Give an example.

Personal Response.

 

Andy worked hard, to give credit to others.  Despite saving the day himself, twice in the morning , once in the afternoon, he knew he couldn’t do this job alone.  Likewise, you need God to enable you.  2nd. Corinthians 3:5.  After all, you cannot accomplish his calling by yourself.

 

Like Andy, have you humbly deferred credit for your hard work?  Give an example.

Personal Response.

 

Action:  Get Out Your Bullet…

Galatians 6:14  May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ , through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

 

Take pride in Christ.  Pride in the enticements of the world will ruin you.  Jesus saves you when you die to them and live in him.  Both the high and the low should be glad that status doesn’t matter to the Lord, wealth, prestige and power are not only hard to obtain, but easily lost.  Read James 1:9-10.  God favors our eternal souls over our earthly status.  On the day that the Lord alone will be exalted, the arrogant will be humbled and the prideful brought low.  Read Isaiah 2:11. 

 

What will you mainly take pride in?

You should take pride in mainly one thing: Jesus thought you important enough to die for.

 

Who will give you credit for your accomplishments? 

God deserves the glory.  You don’t have anything that wasn’t given to you by him.

 

When you reject earthly pride, what will you receive from God?

When you reject pride, you receive honor.  Humility brings wisdom and grace.

 

What do you feel most proud of doing?  Is it for the glory of the Lord?

Personal Response.