Most modern educators cannot define Pride. Some have a PhD after their name, but they don’t know the first thing about this subject. Psychology majors are taught that pride is just a normal human emotion. Philosophy students are being taught that it has virtuous aspects and that a little pride is a healthy thing. The American Psychological Association has confused themselves to the point of thinking pride evolved to serve a social role. These different schools of thought study the human mind and human behavior but are completely oblivious of the human spirit.
So, if we really wanna know what pride is, we cannot go to the unbeliever and ask them for their professional opinion. Instead, we must look to the Word of God. The topic of pride was introduced in Scripture thousands of years ago. Liberal God-hating professors are ignorant of this topic because they ignore the Bible. Yet the Bible contains the greatest spiritual, moral, and sociological research study ever conducted in the history of man. And the Bible exposes pride for what it really is — the ultimate spiritual sin.
In his book Mere Christianity, author C.S. Lewis explains, “According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride.” Lewis goes on to tell us that it was through pride that the Devil became the Devil, that pride is spiritual, every person has pride to deal with, and—if yielded to—it becomes like a spiritual cancer inside you. In his chapter The Great Sin, he explains how pride leads to every other vice. He calls it “the complete anti-God state of mind.” *
As it concerns your soul the subject of Pride is more important than Science, History, or Math. Learning about Pride is more vital than Sports or Music. It is a matter of life and death. Yet it goes largely ignored by our culture and society. This generation doesn’t get it. Unfortunately, the original meaning of this word pride has been covered up by the modern world. So we no longer talk about the kind of pride the Bible speaks of. Now “being proud” has a positive connotation. For example: to be proud of a loved one or to take pride in your work.
But there is this other kind of pride that led to the fall of mankind. It is the most dangerous spiritual substance on Earth. It has shaped human history. It is invisible, you cannot see it, yet it has been with us the entire time. It has become a part of the human condition. It is a part of the way we think. Pride causes people throughout the world—rich and poor, young and old, educated and un-educated—to see themselves as independent from God. Pride makes you think this life is all about you. Now billions of people live in their own little world. We don’t hate God — we just ignore Him.
The next thing pride gets us to do is constantly compare ourselves with one another. It makes us feel the need to out-do each other. It fills the world with competition. All our posturing and posing, bragging and boasting — it comes out of our pride. Pride, by its very nature, is competitive. It is not the desire to be successful but the need to be more successful than others. The proud man is not fully satisfied with being smart, good looking, or rich. He wishes to be smarter, better looking, or richer than the next guy.
What makes a person crave recognition, titles, and glory? What makes a man no longer enjoy playing a sport for fun but gives him satisfaction if he crushes his opponents? What makes a woman who already has a boyfriend or husband feel like she needs to show off her body to the world and collect countless admirers? What makes a cop sometimes harass a citizen and power trip over the smallest infraction or even over nothing at all? What makes a newly hired employee think they should be in charge? What makes politicians compete so ruthlessly? Is it because they care so much about the people they wish to serve? No. All of these things can only be explained by a spirit of pride.
There are so many different ways pride seeks to express itself through our thoughts, words, and actions. Pride makes you feel self-important. Pride will cause you to look down on your peers. It will make you despise authority. A proud person puts themself in a different category from the rest. Pride will drive you to collect but not care about as many followers as you can get. Pride will cause you to exaggerate your strengths but downplay your weaknesses. Pride puffs up your ego. It gives you the idea — I’m kind of a big deal around here. Pride wants to be the star.
Pride is a self-promoter. It is conceited, selfish, self-righteous. Pride is rebellious. Pride is un-loving. It makes you less approachable, less available, less teachable, and less correctable. Pride keeps you from asking others for help. It keeps you from admitting when you’re wrong. Pride makes a man or woman calloused, indifferent, and capable of committing the cruelest of acts against another human being.
Pride is the main cause of arguments. It destroys relationships. It leads many husbands and wives to divorce. It can cause good friends to separate. It’s so divisive and full of strife that it can influence complete strangers to hate each other. Pride is the root cause of racism and class warfare. It has led to wars between nations. Pride is the chief cause of pain and misery throughout the world. There is nothing good or admirable about being full of this pride. And it has become pandemic. It’s a part of our fallen nature. Everybody is guilty of it — me too. Unfortunately, pride is also a blinding sin. Often, we see pride in others yet fail to see it in ourselves!
Pride is an altered state of reality. It believes lies. It tells lies. It perverts our perception of self. It tempts us to see ourselves as self-made men and women. Pride is the sin that most separates Man from God and makes us like Lucifer. It leads souls into spiritual darkness and eternal destruction. Pride fools the world into thinking that God is not real and there is no judgment for sin. It turns us into unbelievers and leads us into disobedience. Faith in Jesus Christ could save all sinners, but many choose not to follow him. Because they are too proud to admit they were wrong and repent of their sins. In the end, many are lost.
Throughout the Old and New Testament God warns humanity about this dark spiritual force we call pride. The Bible describes what it looks like and how it sounds so we can identify it and judge it for what it really is…
Pride is a sin…
Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out, as you have seen. (Ezekiel 16:49,50 New Living)
Your pride cannot save you…
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord. (Obadiah 1:3,4 NIV)
God will judge the proud of heart…
For he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him. (Psalm 76:12 New Living)
Pride is a liar…
“With pride and hatred they speak against those who do right. So silence their lying lips.” (Psalm 31:18 New Century)
Pride is evil…
“If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil. For wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption, and deceit of every kind.” (Proverbs 8:13 Living Bible)
Pride rebels against Godly authority…
This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning Moab since that time [when Moab’s pride and resistance to God were first known]. (Isaiah 16:13 Amplified)
People can tell how proud you are by the way you talk…
“We’ve heard of the arrogance of Moab’s people. They are very arrogant. We’ve heard of their boasting, arrogance, and conceit, but their boasts aren’t true.” (Isaiah 16:6 God’s Word)
Pride is an arguer…
Through pride and presumption come nothing but strife, but [skillful and godly] wisdom is with those who welcome [well-advised] counsel. (Proverbs 13:10 Amplified)
Pride is a mocker…
Mockers are proud, haughty, and arrogant. (Proverbs 21:24 Living Bible)
Pride goes before destruction…
Pride leads to destruction; a proud attitude brings ruin. It is better to be humble and be with those who suffer than to share stolen property with the proud. (Proverbs 16:18,19 New Century)
Pride gives you a false sense of security…
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall in his own imagination and conceit. Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honor. (Proverbs 18:11,12 Amplified)
Pride is temporary and unsatisfying…
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. (1 John 2:16 New Living)
Humility brings honor while Pride brings dishonor…
A man’s pride and sense of self-importance will bring him down, but he who has a humble spirit will obtain honor. (Proverbs 29:23 Amplified)
Humility is willing to take the lower position…
In the same way, younger people should be willing to be under older people. And all of you should be very humble with each other. God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5 New Century)
Promotion comes from above…
Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. (1 Peter 5:6 Amplified)
Before being promoted you must pass the tests of humility and faithfulness…
The pastor must not be a new Christian because he might be proud of being chosen so soon, and pride comes before a fall. Satan’s downfall is an example. (1 Timothy 3:6 Living Bible)
Jesus said…
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29 Complete Jewish)
Christians should act like the Christ…
Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] (Philippians 2:5 Amplified)
Humility is willing to serve…
“The more lowly your service to others, the greater you are. To be the greatest, be a servant. But those who think themselves great shall be disappointed and humbled; and those who humble themselves shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11,12 Living Bible)
Humility is a choice. It’s a way of thinking, speaking, and acting. Practicing humility changes who you are on the inside. It’s spiritual. It affects your soul.
Being poor does not make a person humble. Some people are homeless, penniless, and proud of it. Some people got an attitude about it. They’re bitter and offended. They feel like everybody owes them something. It’s possible to be poor and greedy and covetous… and very proud… all at the same time.
And, contrary to what you might expect, confidence is not pride. A person could be confident, successful, rich and famous, and in their heart be very humble and thankful. Thankfulness is a sign of humility. It’s not about the stuff. It’s about your response to it.
It is written that the meek will inherit the Earth. Meekness is not weakness or poverty. It’s a form of humility. It has to do with keeping your thoughts, words, and actions under control. And it takes great humility to keep your mind and mouth under control. This is the measure of a man’s spiritual strength. This is what makes a woman really attractive. Humility is not about acting like you’re not strong or not pretty. It doesn’t involve self-harm. It is not pretending to be poor or pitiful or a nobody—that’s false humility.
Humility is honest and transparent. And anyone can practice it if they choose to. It’s easy. Just admit when you are wrong or have made a mistake. If you need help, ask. Show respect to those in authority over you. Show respect to those with less status than you. Congratulate your peers when they succeed. Take a genuine interest in what friends or coworkers have going on. Be willing to serve. Let others go first. If you receive a gift, say thank you. If you hurt somebody, say I’m sorry. Tell the truth even if it makes you look bad. Don’t take credit for someone else’s work. Don’t bully or try to devalue others. Don’t just daydream about achieving greatness — do the little things. Don’t overestimate your own abilities and underestimate everybody else. Recognize your own weaknesses and limitations. If you have a job to do or a skill to develop; train, study, and practice.
It is far more rewarding to approach life this way. Humility allows you to receive greater grace from God. It qualifies you to do more for His Kingdom. And by practicing humility you will find rest for your soul. You don’t boost your self-esteem by trying to impress or compete with others. You boost it by finding out and doing what God called you to do.
If you want to be truly successful, have more peace and joy in your life, and make Christianity attractive to others — stay humble. Also, understand that you can be humble and be very good at what you do. You could become one of the best at your profession. You can be both humble and a person of excellence. You can pursue humility and enjoy the best of the land. You can achieve great things… for God’s glory. But first you must get over yourself.
Humility helps us return to God. But to walk in humility requires effort. It does not happen automatically. And it may seem difficult at first. Pride can be very subtle. If it has been there the entire time, operating through you on a daily basis, you might not even notice it. Let this teaching be a guide to identifying and judging pride—not in other people—rather in your own life. But nobody can do this for you. The Bible says to “Humble yourself…”
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