Pride is a feeling of honor, delight, or satisfaction taken in one’s own and impressive accomplishments or accomplishments of a relative, nation, or group. The Bible identifies pride as “the sin before all sins”, and it will be the cause of a person’s downfall.
The Bible mentions pride, in various ways and contexts, over 400 times. The basic definition of pride, however, is consistently the same. Pride is described as a part of human nature, as something that separates a person from God, and as something that should be avoided if one is to live a life in accordance to Scripture.
The Bible labels pride as a sin, and warns against it. Proverbs 29:23 says, “A man’s pride will bring him down, but a humble spirit will gain honor.” It expresses that to be humble is the key to following the will of God. Another verse, James 4:6, states that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” It is easy to encounter pride in many aspects of life and as it is illustrated in the Bible, pride can lead to destruction and create a rift between us and God.
The Bible warns us to guard ourselves from proud thoughts and feelings, and instead to maintain humility. As Matthew 18:4 states, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” It is clear that humility—not pride—should be the quality that characterizes us. Moreover, pride often leads to judgement, which is also discouraged in Spiritual teachings. Romans 2:1 says, “Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.”
In addition to avoiding judgement, Scripture calls us to lay down our expectations, and most importantly, let go of our pride. Philippians 2:3 reads, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Through this, it demonstrates that laying down expectations is the cornerstone to humility and it is integral to following God’s will. Furthermore, the hard truth that we must accept is that the world that we live in is a broken one and no matter how hard we try, we will never be able to transcend it. This attitude requires us to let go of our pride, and instead focus on bringing holistic healing and renewal to our broken world.
Throughout the Bible, pride is consistently a trait that draws away people’s attention from God and His will. To make sure that we are hearing God’s word and following His commands, we must strive for humility in our lives. To build character rooted in faith and gratitude is the ultimate goal of a life devoted to Christ. Let our pride go and let us look to God for answers and strength.
What Are The Negative Effects Of Pride?
Pride has a devastating effect on our spiritual and personal relationship with God. Biblical scripture warns us of being overly proud and admonish us to have humility. Romans 11:20 states, “For all that is at present hidden from us, I claim to know only in part; but when he comes, the One who is the true Light, he will disclose to us the uttermost secrets of God.” This illustration depicts how our pride can lead us astray and prevent us from recognizing God’s will. Furthermore, Matthew 7:9 reads, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Through this, judgement is highlighted as being a prideful quality.
Not only can our pride keep us blind to how God works in our lives, but it can also disrupt our relationship with others. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” This verse speaks to the issues that may arise when we act and think highly of ourselves and become immersed in pride. It is easy to become overwhelmed with our own achievements and, although it is important to recognize our gifts and strive for excellence, this pride is damaging when it takes away from our relationships with people. If we are so proud of ourselves and our accomplishments, how can we allow God and other people to join us in celebrating these achievements?
Pride can also lead to decisions driven by a desire for control and superiority. We must recognize that no matter how secure our position is, God is always in control and we should defer to him. Psalms 24:1 reads, “The earth and all its people belong to the Lord; the world and all who live in it.” This text urges us to remember who is in charge and resist becoming engulfed in pride.
What Are The Benefits Of Humility?
Humility allows us to build our foundation on God and recognize that all of our achievements come from Him and the blessings he grants us. Philippians 2:13 states, “It is God who works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure.” This belief should fuel our actions and goal-focused endeavors.
Furthermore, humility allows us to establish meaningful relationships, which is beneficial in all realms of life, both personally and professionally. Philippians 4:2 explains, “Everything should be done in a spirit of harmony.” Through this text, the importance of getting along with people is illustrated and how it is unproductive to be jealous or boastful of others. With this in mind, we must recognize that even as we strive for greatness, we must maintain humility and cordial relationships. It is important to be mindful of this in our interactions with people, as well as in our prayers and communication with God.
Humility also enables us to receive God’s grace. Only through humility are we given the privilege to commune with God and establish a lasting relationship with Him. Matthew 11:29 reads, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Though God is omniscient and of divine power, he also is meek and humble, eager to assist us if we put down our pride and dedicate ourselves to Him.
How To Develop A Humble Attitude?
When developing a life rooted in humility, it is important to establish a daily practice that consists of prayer, reading scripture, and internal reflection. We can pray for God’s strength to stay humble and submit to Him. We should be mindful not to take our blessings for granted, seek His guidance during decision-making, and thank him for any accomplishments that we obtain. We should also practice the presence of God, whether through a set routine or occasional moments throughout the day, so that we can be constantly reminded of Him.
It is also important to recognize the humility of Christ. Philippians 2:7-8 reads, “…made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.” This text reminds us how Jesus humbled himself, despite being of divine power, and was obedient to death. We can look to Jesus’ example and emulate the ways in which He laid down his expectations and focused on God’s will.
Lastly, it is necessary to become aware of any signs of pride that may be evident in our speech or behavior, and address them immediately. We do not have to be excessively prideful to encounter the adverse effects that pride can have on us; even small instances can be damaging, and should be identified as such. It is critical that we live our lives in accordance to biblical teachings and guard against pride.
What Are The Spiritual Consequences Of Pride?
Spiritually, pride harms our relationship with God, as it presents a barrier between us and his teachings, commands, and healing. James 4:7 warns, “… submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This text speaks to how submitting to God and resisting pride will safeguard us from the devil and his temptations. Through this, it is made clear that having a foundation of humility will protect us from the spiritual consequences of pride, as it will help us fend off the flaws of our human nature.
It is also important to assess the way in which we interact with God, and make sure to do this with a spirit of humility. Colossians 3:12 reminds us that when we go to the Lord in prayer, we must do so with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” We should not have a sense of pride or entitlement when we reach out to God. In addition, God must be our ultimate source of peace and solace. Psalm 29:2 encourages us to “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” Acknowledging God’s glory and worshipping Him helps us foster a humble attitude and remain close to Him.
Lastly, we can welcome the Spirit of God into our lives by going through Jesus’ teachings and suppressing our pride. When we read and reflect on Gospel accounts such as the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14), it is easier to accept and internalize Jesus’ precise message of humility. All of these reminders come together to illustrate how developing a life of humility is essential for connecting with God, and counteracting the grave spiritual consequences of pride.
How To Stop Feeding The Ego?
Humility and pride are feelings that exist in all of us to varying degrees and it is natural to succumb to temptation of pride today and again. To prevent pride from taking over our lives and better align ourselves with Bible teachings, we must take a conscious effort to identify any signs of pride in ourselves and actively move towards humility. An easy way to start this process is to stop feeding the ego. This essentially means recognizing the desire of wanting to be regarded in a positive light, and knowing how to be mindful of this so that it does not take precedence. Recognizing our ego and becoming aware of how it steers our thoughts, conversations, and behavior is an important first step.
In addition, it is necessary to recognize that humility is key in connecting to God and his will. Hebrews 11:6 instructs us to “have faith in God,” and through this, we are reminded that we must trust God and be abased to Him. Only when we stay humble do we stand a chance to fully grasp God’s will and follow his steps.
We must also recognize that the gifts that God grants us are not solely our own, and any achievements are byproducts of his blessings. Proverbs 27:2 reminds us that, “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” In this sense, it is important to be mindful of how we receive thanks and accolades, as
