You’ve probably heard that pride is a sin.
The Bible seems to condemn it at every turn.
But have you ever really stopped to think about what pride means in a biblical context? Is all pride bad, or are there different kinds of pride—some sinful and some not? In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the real meaning of pride according to the Bible.
You may be surprised to find out that not all pride is created equal.
We’ll look at specific verses and examples that show both the positive and negative sides of pride.
Our goal is to help you gain clarity on this commonly misunderstood topic so you can apply it to your life in a godly way.
So buckle up as we explore the true meaning of pride from a biblical perspective.
Defining Pride in the Bible
The biblical concept of pride refers to an inflated sense of self and selfish ambition that causes a person to focus inwardly and pursue their desires over God’s will.
Pride as Self-Sufficiency
When you think you don’t need God or others in your life and that you can achieve things on your own without help, that’s pride.
The Bible warns that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
Pride as Arrogance
An arrogant person believes they are better or more important than others.
They look down on people and treat them with contempt and disrespect.
Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Pride as Selfish Ambition
Selfish ambition is the desire to fulfill your aspirations and advance your status without regard for others.
The apostle Paul instructs us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
While confidence and self-worth are healthy, pride creates distance between us and God, as well as between us and other people.
It’s a sin that destroys relationships and causes division.
The antidote to pride is humility – recognizing that every good thing comes from God, and all people have equal worth and dignity as his creation.
By embracing humility, we can overcome pride and experience true freedom and joy.
Examples of Destructive Pride in Scripture
The Bible provides many examples of the downward spiral that pride can lead to.
Take King Saul, for instance.
Saul’s pride and jealousy caused him to disobey God’s commands and persecute David.
His arrogance ultimately led to his downfall and rejection as king.
Saul Disobeys the Lord
In 1 Samuel 15, God instructed Saul to destroy the Amalekites completely.
But Saul kept the king alive and spared the best of the livestock.
When Samuel confronted him, Saul lied and blamed the people instead of repenting.
His pride and desire to do things his way resulted in God rejecting him as king.
Saul Tries to Kill David
Saul’s pride also caused him to become intensely jealous of David.
Despite David’s loyalty and service to Saul, Saul tried repeatedly to kill him.
Saul’s arrogance blinded him to David’s devotion and caused him to see David as a threat to his power.
His pride ultimately destroyed their relationship and set in motion events that led to his downfall.
Pride Goes Before Destruction
The story of King Saul serves as a sobering reminder of the truth in Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Saul’s pride and arrogance caused him to disobey God, break relationships with faithful leaders, and ultimately lead to his rejection as king of Israel.
His life illustrates how destructive pride, left unchecked, can become.
God Opposes the Proud
When the Bible talks about pride, it’s referring to an arrogant and self-centered attitude.
Pride is the opposite of humility and recognizing our dependence on God.
The proud ignore God’s authority and believe they can achieve things through their power and abilities.
God opposes this kind of self-reliance and arrogance.
Pride Comes Before the Fall
We’ve all heard the saying “Pride comes before the fall.” This captures the biblical teaching that pride leads to downfall and destruction.
When you think you have no need for God and rely only on yourself, you are setting yourself up for failure.
No one is self-sufficient – we all depend on God, whether we recognize it or not.
Those who don’t will eventually come to ruin.
God Gives Grace to the Humble
In contrast, God gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).
Those who recognize their need for God and submit to His authority will receive His grace, favor, and blessing.
God lifts those who humble themselves before Him.
While the proud will be opposed and brought low, the humble will be exalted.
Develop Humility Through Obedience
The antidote to pride is humility, and humility comes through obedience to God.
Submitting to God’s Word and will helps us recognize that He is in control, not us.
We are reminded of our dependence on Him and our need to rely on His wisdom and strength, not our own.
By obeying God, we are humbled.
And the humble receive God’s grace.
In the end, we have a choice: will we be proud or humble? Will we oppose God through arrogance, or receive His grace through humility and obedience? God makes it clear that He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
The path to life and blessing is through humility before God.
The Dangers of Pride for Christians Today
It Separates Us From God
When we become prideful, we start to focus more on ourselves and less on God.
Pride makes us think we don’t need God and can do things on our own.
The truth is, we are nothing without God.
As Christians, we know God should be the center of our lives, but pride pushes Him out of the picture.
The Bible warns that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
It Leads to Other Sins
Pride opens the door to other sins like greed, envy, and selfishness.
When we think too highly of ourselves, we believe we deserve more or are entitled to things.
This paves the way for greed and envy.
Pride also makes us focus inward, leading to selfishness and a lack of care or concern for others.
The Bible says “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing” (James 3:16).
It Destroys Relationships
No one enjoys being around someone arrogant or boastful.
Pride damages our relationships with others because it makes us think we are more important or valuable than the people around us.
Instead of building others up, pride causes us to tear them down.
The Bible instructs us to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
It Stunts Our Growth
When we think we already know it all, we stop learning and growing.
Pride convinces us we have nothing left to learn, but in reality, we will never stop learning and growing as Christians.
There are always new things God wants to teach us and ways He wants us to grow in faith and character.
Staying humble allows God to continue shaping and molding us into who He wants us to be.
As the Bible says, “The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).
Keeping pride in check is a lifelong battle, but with God’s help, we can overcome it.
Staying humble allows God to work in our lives and use us for His glory.
We must make it our daily aim to keep God at the center, consider others first, and never stop learning and growing in our faith.
Overcoming Pride Through Humility and Repentance
Pride comes before the fall, as the saying goes.
When you allow pride to rule your heart, it blinds you to your faults and weaknesses.
You become unwilling to accept criticism or advice, believing you know best.
But the truth is, we are all sinners in need of God’s grace.
Overcoming pride starts with cultivating humility.
Acknowledge Your Limitations
You must recognize that you have limitations, flaws, and faults, just like all humans.
Don’t think too highly of yourself or your own opinions.
Accept that you still have much to learn, and approach new ideas and criticisms with an open mind.
Seek wisdom from others rather than relying only on your understanding.
Repent of Your Sins
Pride causes us to justify our sins rather than repent of them.
But repentance is the only way to overcome pride.
Ask God to reveal the sins of pride in your life, then confess them and turn away from them.
Ask Him to break you of habits like arrogance, self-righteousness, and self-centeredness.
Pray for a spirit of humility, gentleness, and selflessness instead.
Serve Others
One of the best cures for pride is to shift your focus off yourself and onto others.
Look for ways to serve people with no expectation of reward or recognition.
Lift others through encouragement and acts of kindness.
Make a habit of putting the needs of your friends, family, church, and community first.
There is no room for pride when you are busy blessing those around you.
Overcoming pride is a lifelong process that requires vigilance and grace.
But by walking in humility, repentance, and selfless service, you can subdue pride and grow in Christlike character.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, the perfect example of humility, and follow in His footsteps.
