How many times do we say to someone we are proud of them? Do we really understand what we are saying? The words that define pride, are not what we would want to describe us. It is the quality or state of being proud. It is inordinate self-esteem or conceit. It can be reasonable or justifiable self-respect, a feeling that you are better than someone else or that you deserve better than what you have. I think with the word defined you will understand why God says that it is a sin. Here are a few verses that will show you what God thinks about it.
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
Proverbs 11:2 “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
Proverbs 13:10 “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”
Pride brings contention, it brings shame, and pride cannot be present if we have the proper fear of God. It is the first step to destruction, and it is the opposite of humility that God commands us to have. When we feel good about something God has done, we need to make sure we are giving him the credit and glory. If you want to get technical about it, all good comes from God. You can only achieve what God allows you to achieve. You can’t even breathe unless God so deems it.
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
So, why are we so steeped in the sin of pride? Why is it so difficult to overcome? It is the sin that stirs up within us on every turn. It is the sin that cost Satan his role in Heaven. He thought he deserved to be equal with God. It has been called the sin of all sins. Satan was the angel Lucifer, an anointed cherub of God. He was the most beautiful of all angels, a leader of angels and yet, this beautiful creature became Satan, the devil, the father of lies. He is the one for which Hell was created. Pride has caused many godly people to fall. It is a sin we must battle all our lives. It is the sin that says “I don’t need anyone I can do this on my own.” It is also the sin that says you need to help me because I deserve it.
Isaiah 14:12 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
Pride is a sly, sneaky sin. It creeps in and takes over anytime it sees the opportunity. It will hang around and be very subtle until it takes over. It is the sin that focuses on self. The very word pride has “I” as its center. The world says to have self-esteem, to focus on our own worth, to build ourselves up, and to think highly of ourselves. God says to focus on Him. Our worth is that he valued us enough to send His Son to die for us. Philippians 2:3-4 tells us to think of others and not ourselves. We are to be selfless, not selfish. God says to be humble, and He will lift us up. Our entire being is to be focused on Him. If we are doing that, God will take care of everything else. We won’t need to be propped up with some self-esteem, “mumbo-jumbo.” Humility must become our lifestyle if we are to overcome the destruction that pride brings.
Take time to examine your motives. Don’t wait until God has to bring you to destruction like he did so many in the Bible. Is a feeling of pride, a feeling of “it’s your right,” at the center of your motives? Is “I” in the middle of what you are seeking? Read the verses below and it should help you to come to a clear understanding of how God sees pride. We are very clever in our thinking, sometimes to the point, we can lie to ourselves about our motives. However, if we come before God and ask Him to show us where in our lives the sin of pride is manifested, He will do it!
Matthew 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
I Peter 5:5 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisted the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
I Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
Psalm 138:6 “Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”
