Pride is the topic we will explore today.
We know that it is considered the most dangerous of the seven deadly sins.
Pride is sinful when it causes us to exalt ourselves above others. It is an excessive focus on one’s self with little to no regard for others.
This can manifest in the form of boasting and overemphasizing our achievements, the value of our social and economic status.
Another marker of pride is that it causes its victims to ignore God’s direction for their lives.
It is considered the most dangerous of sins as it ascribes glory and honor that is due only to God, to self.
This is the sin too that Christians believe set the fall of man into motion.
Satan, who was once an angel, was motivated by pride to rebel against God.
“Through pride the devil became the devil. Pride leads to every vice. It’s the complete anti-God state of mind”
C.S. Lewis
Key Verses on Pride:
Here are 11 verses addressing pride in the Bible along with our key takeaway from each.
1 John 2:16
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Observation
This verse aptly describes worldliness. The pride of life here refers to those excessive cravings and sinful desires that feed the ego. These desires are surely not God-given and leads to only to self-glorification.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Observation
Pride as described here leads a person to ascribe glory to self rather than God. Jeremiah points out that the only boasting man should indulge in is boasting in God.
James 4:6
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Observation
Man ought to steer clear of pride and instead seek to cultivate the spirit of humility. Humility is the opposite of pride.
Galatians 6:3
3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Observation
It is the nature of pride to be deceptive. It fools man into an elevated sense of self. Pride here tells us that we are stronger than and more significant than another person.
However, we must look to the personhood of our Lord. Paul’s use of “if anyone…” here shows that he referred to all the people in Galatia.
1 Peter 5:5
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Observation
Humility is the virtue that counteracts the sin of pride. It causes us to submit to authority and to be open to the counsel of others.
Psalm 10:4
4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
Observation
Pride causes us to be an enemy to God. It leads us into thinking we can somehow survive without Him.
Obadiah 1:3
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”
Observation
Pride has the power to really deceive people. It allows them to believe lies about themselves and others. It can give them a false sense of security. Its victims run with the false narratives produced by these deceptions.
In this case, the Edomites false believed that they were a formidable force despite what should have been obvious physical limitations.
Ecclesiastes 7:8
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Observation
King Solomon points out the wisdom in holding off judgement until we see the outcome. This is practical advice that humble people will heed to.
Pride however makes its victims blind, throwing out caution to the wind. Such people lack patience which is a fruit of the Spirit.
Luke 18:9-14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Observation
Pride causes man to be distastefully judgmental. It deceives them into thinking they are better than another. It robs them of the opportunity to be reverend and have a contrite heart.
Pride also distracts them from being genuinely repentant because they convince them selves that their works atone for the state of their heart.
Psalm 138:6
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
Observation
Pride is repulsive to God. It is a character flaw that while He can forgive and redeem, He will not sanction. One will first have to repent of this and recognize that He much prefers a lowly, humble spirit.
Romans 12:3
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Observation
God has made provision for us to receive His grace in humility. This is a gift, not an entitlement. We all therefore must be honest in our evaluation of ourselves; freeing ourselves of prideful, deceptive self-judgement.
Pride In Proverbs
As with our previous post on the sin of sloth, the topic of pride is sprinkled throughout the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs is the hallmark of wisdom scriptures in the Bible.
It follows therefore that warnings about character flaws are a guaranteed find in it.
And warn about pride it does.
Here are 16 instances where King Solomon denounced the sin of pride in the book of Proverbs.
Song Choice Today
Today’s song choice is a groovy, dancehall-style gospel track from Jamaica called ‘Boast inna God’.
This song is by American-born but definitely Jamaican by blood and culture, crooner, Alaine.
I will share the lyrics and clarify the colloquial language used so you can follow along easily.
If you have never heard Jamaica’s dialect, don’t worry.
It is easy to decipher.
Boast inna God Lyrics [Prelude] When you see mi me ya [When you see me I am] When you see mi me ya [When you see me I am] Boast inna God oo [Boast in God] Boast inna God oo [Boast in God] Boast inna God oo [Boast in God] [Verse 1] Set me free from my jailer Set me free from my pain Set me free from all other hurt all other shame You are the giver of salvation You are the giver of Light You are the true the resurrection and the life [Chorus] So when you see me, when you see me Boast inna the Lord [Boast in the Lord] Boast inna the Lord [Boast in the Lord] Do di boast inna di [Do the boasting in the] Lord boast inna di Lord [Lord boasting in the Lord] God alone a mi shield and mi King [God alone is my shield and my King] Mi a boast a boast [I am boasting, boasting] Boast about him Mi a boast inna di Lord [ I am boasting in the Lord] Boast inna di Lord [Boast in the Lord] Do di boast inna di Lord [Do the boast in the Lord] Boast inna di Lord [Boast in the Lord] God alone a mi source everything [God alone is my source, everything] Me a boast a boast [I am boasting, boasting] Boast about him [Boast about Him] [Verse 2] Yeah me a boast inna God but not About material things Cause everything on earth will fade away I sing And keep my hallelujah And my praise rising to He who is everlasting Nah keep nuh secrets stand up inna [Not keeping any secrets, stand up in the] Crowd with it all di glory and di honour [Crowd with it, all the glory and the honor] Yeah a him get it [Yes it's He who gets it] All the blessing inna mi life yeah [All the blessing in my life yea] A him set it [He sets it] The reason I’m a winner cause the saviour by my side I thank God that I am forgiven I’ve been saved and sanctified Through the chance and through the trails All the times I could have died I will brag I will show off because of you God I’m alive [Chorus x 3] [Outro] Yeah yeah mi boasy [repeat] Fimmi God alone get di trophy [My God alone get the trophy] Watch how mi boasy fimmi God alone get di trophy [Watch how I'm boasty, my God alone get the trophy] A femmi blessing [It's my blessing]
So What Did You Think?
Did you like this song?
Did it make you dance just a little bit?
This song reminds us that if ever we find ourselves boasting, it ought to be in the Lord.
Tell us too if pride has been an area of struggle for you?
Remember, there is no condemnation for us who believe in the Lord.
Pride, though a very tricky sin, is definitely forgivable.
So, take heart friend!
Til our next post…
Stay Blessed