Pride: The Pitfalls of Self-Exaltation

Pride. It’s one of those words that gets tossed around a lot, especially in religious circles. But what does "pride" really mean? It’s not just about feeling good or having confidence in one's accomplishments or abilities. Pride, or more specifically, biblical pride is about self-exaltation. The bible does not look favorably on those who think highly of themselves or those that place selfish desires, strengths, and status above others, even God.

What Does the Bible Say About Pride?

The Bible is clear when it comes to pride.

Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.”

The word of God sternly warns us that when pride gets a hold of us, things tend to go downhill quickly. The idea here is that pride leads us to believe we are untouchable, thinking we’re better than others. This can cause us to make very poor decisions that we’ll regret later on.

The Bible also explains God’s attitude toward pride. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” God doesn’t just dismiss pride; He actively opposes it. Scripture then tells us He favors humility, a quality which stands in direct opposition to being prideful.

Pride in the Bible: From Kings to Commoners

Throughout Scripture, we see several examples of pride leading people down dangerous paths. Take King Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel, for example. Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful king who looked around at his kingdom and thought, “Wow, look at what I’ve built. I’m untouchable.” This attitude of self-exaltation led to his downfall. God humbled him by causing him to spend years living like an animal.

Then there’s the story of Lucifer (Satan). He was originally a beautiful, powerful, and talented angel who allowed pride to take root in his heart. He wanted to be like God and sought to overthrow Him. This led to his rebellion and eventual fall from grace. His story, depicted in Isaiah 14:12-15, is a stark reminder that pride isn’t just about thinking you’re better than others. It can lead to far greater consequences when it challenges God's authority.

But it’s not just kings and angels who struggle with pride. Everyday people can fall into the trap of self-exaltation. The Pharisees, for example, were known for their religious pride, elevating themselves on their strict observance of the law and looking down on those that didn’t measure up. Jesus wasn’t too fond of them, pointing out that pride made them blind to their need for humility and repentance.

Why Pride Is Dangerous

At its core, pride isn’t just a personality flaw, it’s a spiritual problem. It hinders our ability to connect to God and others. When we are prideful, we are only concerned with ourselves, thereby narrowing our vision and rendering us incapable of having an accurate view of others as well as ourselves. We begin to believe that we don’t need help or that we’ve got everything figured out. This creates a divide between us and the people around us. More significantly, it separates us from God.

Pride also tends to blind us to our own weaknesses and we become quick to point out the weaknesses in others. We are all imperfect, but when we are overcome with pride, we tend to ignore our flaws or pretend they don’t exist. This prevents spiritual and emotional growth. It hinders our ability to learn from mistakes and stops us from seeking help when we need it.

The Solution: Humility

So, how do we combat pride? The answer is humility. It’s about recognizing we are not the center of the universe, God is. Humility doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself; it means thinking of yourself less. When we practice humility, we acknowledge that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God. In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul encourages believers to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Humility allows us to put others first, creating deeper relationships and honoring God in everything we do.

Final Thoughts

Pride may feel right in the moment, but the Bible teaches us that it’s a road that leads to destruction. Humility, in contrast, brings us closer to God and creates room for true growth and connection. Therefore, let us strive to acknowledge and confront our pride when it rears it’s ugly head. Sometimes, when it does creep in, we recognize it within ourselves. Other times, we have someone close to us that will point it out for us. Both are blessings and opportunities for us to remain humble. So, let us live with humility and always remember that everything we have is by the grace of God.