Pride can be the biggest issue for most Christians. From the day we are born when our parents look at us with pride, we learned that pride may be a good thing. Throughout our lives, we are told to take pride in our work, our appearance, and our accomplishments. However, what the Bible says about pride is a different story. It can be harmful, but it can also be very good. Let’s discuss how God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit view pride.
We will also unpack two people in the Bible that used pride in a destructive way and one that used pride to glorify God. The lesson of the pride of man can be used to show how great pride can be if used properly. It just requires a humble spirit powered by the Holy Spirit and a willingness to follow God.
Pride and Destruction
It is written, Pride goes before destruction. When we think too much of ourselves, we develop a haughty spirit. We develop a huge attitude where we act like we are better than other people. We begin to put on an air of superiority and begin to look down on others. The consequences of this type of attitude can lead to destroyed relationships at home, work, and wherever we may travel.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
This is the negative side of pride. It can destroy relationships between lovers, friends, family, and coworkers. Prideful people feel as if they are the center of all relationships and only, they matter. They drain the resources of others and don’t contribute to the well-being of any relationship. It could lead to narcissistic behavior as a preoccupation with oneself is not healthy. They tend to use, lie, and cheat people. They are unfaithful and untrustworthy.
Although most people don’t exhibit all these tendencies at once. We have all done one or more of these things during points in our lives. Hence, there are many examples of prideful people in the Bible and in our everyday life. Here is what the Bible says about the pride of these two people – Satan and King Nebuchadnezzar.
Prideful People in the Bible
There are many pride-filled people in the Bible. However, Satan one of the first was introduced in the Garden of Eden as a snake. He is a fallen angel from Heaven. The devil and his followers rebelled against God in Heaven. He proudly assumed that he could defeat God and rule.
King Nebuchadnezzar is known as the greatest King of Babylonia. He was introduced during the captivity of the Jewish people. However, he was another one whose pride was his downfall after achieving so much for God and himself. There are other prideful people in the Bible, but we will focus on these two. They both expressed tremendous pride against God.
The Devil
The Devil is probably the first person to show a prideful nature against God. Most prideful behavior begins against God. Like the Devil when we begin to view ourselves and our accomplishments apart from God this is the beginning of the Fall. In his pride, Satan tried to install himself as God. Satan felt he was greater than God, his maker. However, God proved that He was all-powerful and all-knowing and defeated the Devil when the war broke out. Hence, the Devil lost the battle and was thrown out of Heaven and down to Earth.
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:9
The Devil On Earth
However, on Earth, the Devil continues with his hate for God against mankind because he knows his time is limited. His sole purpose is to destroy from the very beginning of time. The devil is a murderer and a liar. He is allowed to roam the Earth seeking to destroy all that will follow him. From the first sin, his pride only wants death for us as that is his legacy. He tries to use our pride to turn us away from God. He will lie to us constantly about how God does not love us. However, we know that Jesus Christ conquered the devil and death. God showed His love for us by sending Jesus to be our Savior.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14
and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10
King Nebuchadnezzar
King Nebuchadnezzar was used by God to enslave the Jewish people for the purpose of disciplining God’s people for their disobedience. However, in his pride, he tried to take all the credit for the great kingdom of Babylonia. He would not give all glory and honor to God. Therefore, God removed him from Babylonia to live amongst the field of the beast. This was total humiliation for Nebuchadnezzar. However, as always, pride goes before the fall. Before the words were uttered from his mouth, he regretted them.
30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” Daniel 4:30-32
King Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself after seven years giving all glory and honor to God who lives forever. Those who walk in pride God is always able to humble.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37
This is a powerful lesson on how we should always give all glory and honor to God. For He is sovereign overall. Nothing can be accomplished without the power of God.
God Hates Pride
The Lord hates pride. God wants us to hate evil, pride, arrogance, and perverted speech. Hence, God actively plans to eliminate pride from the world. Therefore, eliminating pride is part of God’s plan. Our purpose in life is to humbly live for the Lord. Pride has no place on Earth and in Heaven. Our greatest example of living a pride-free life is through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Holy Bible is the blueprint for a life free of pride. The ultimate pride of life should be found in Jesus. When you come face to face with Jesus you will give up your pride and live for Him.
The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Proverbs 8:13
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.” 1 Peter 5:5
The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendor and to humble all who are renowned on the earth. Isaiah 23:9
Jesus’ Humility vs. Pride
Christ Jesus demonstrates true humility. He came down from Heaven filled with the riches of God to become poor and live amongst us. A world filled with sin to be the propitiation for our sins. The ultimate sacrifice to save the world. Jesus humbled himself to live amongst us. To become fully man and fully God so that He became the high priest.
A priest that walked our walk and talked our talk but remained sinless. There was no pride in Jesus as He came to fulfill the promises of God. He came to serve not to be served. The King of kings and Lord of lords came down from heaven to save us. Jesus is the only way to heaven and eternal life.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8
This is a good thing that every prideful person should learn from. Therefore, follow in Jesus’ steps as the Bible verses in the New Testament tells us. We are called to humble ourselves, deny ourselves, pick up our crosses, and follow Jesus.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24
Pride and Mankind
Our proud heart can lead us to evil thoughts in pursuit of the desires of our heart. Mankind suffers from a proud heart when they look to themselves as the reason for their success. They forget that God had anything to do with their good fortune. The Bible clearly speaks about the heart of man that can lead to evil thoughts and actions.
When we place ourselves above all and try to become a god in ourselves is when all the trouble begins. We have all on an occasion been guilty of this. God’s word is the only way to counter this kind of pride. Hence, as children of God, we must avoid evil things by allowing the fear of the Lord to guide us to a humbler spirit.
When I was much younger, I use to believe that I was solely responsible for all the good things that happen in my life. Therefore, I always asked God why He allowed bad things in my life. As I began to grow in my relationship with God, I realized God was responsible for all the good things in my life and the bad things were a product of the decisions I made and the broken world we live in.
God allowed these things to happen because they were meant for my sake and sometimes for a higher purpose. One day I will sit down with Jesus and learn why. For now, I live by faith that God is sovereign over all.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. Matthew 15:19
Holy Spirit and Pride
A humble spirit begins with allowing the Holy Spirit to change our sinful pride. To create for us a new heart. A humble heart can change our haughty eyes into eyes that see our own pride as the work of the devil. Jesus the King of Heaven gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us avoid the sin of pride. This occurs when we repent, turn from our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit enters our hearts and transforms us. Therefore, the Holy Spirit will guide us to do the right thing. The Spirit will help us, convict us, and lead us to the love of God.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26
The spirit of pride will lead us to the desires of the flesh. Our own pride will lead us into any and every evil way that man can imagine. However, by God’s grace and mercy, we can be saved. We can be transformed into a new creation.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
Religious Leaders and Pride
The Apostle Paul was a proud man. He was proud of his weakness. He had many reasons to be proud based on the number of churches that he planted. However, he chose to be proud of how his weakness made the power of God perfect. This is the best use of our pride as it magnifies God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul as a great religious leader knew that a proud person placing all their pride in God would effectively save his own life. The Apostle Paul gave his life to Christ knowing that the human heart could never really avoid great sin. However, the consequences of pride led him to persecute Jesus. Jesus closed his own eyes and reopened them upon the changes in his heart. Therefore, Paul was able to bring many followers to Jesus Christ.
Our religious leaders should follow the teachings of Paul to ensure that pride does not cause them to lead God’s people astray. To understand that it is through the word of God and God alone who grows the churches and ministries. It is truly for God’s glory that prideful people are made humble.
Pride Can Be a Good Thing
Hence, pride is not necessarily a bad thing or a wrong thing when we focus our pride on God. God is sovereign over all. Therefore, when focusing the desires of the eyes on the desires of God which are sharing the good news with others then the mighty hand of God is with us. Therefore, pride can be a good thing. When man’s pride becomes the work accomplished for the Lord there will be the fruit of the spirit. The love of God will overflow from the heart.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness Galatians 5:22
The world wants us to take pride in all that we are and all that we have. However, apart from God, we can accomplish nothing. It is by his grace and mercy that we have a roof over our heads and food on our table. God in His great sovereignty provides for the righteous and the unrighteous. It is not from the works of our hands that we can boast.
It is amazing that God wants us to go out to the world to speak on his behalf by sharing the Gospel wherever we go. This is a great honor that we should take pride in knowing that God trusts us with His Word. I know that I am humbled and in awe of all God allows me to accomplish for His purpose.
Ways to Avoid Pride:
- Avoid prideful people
- Read the Holy Bible
- Participate in regular Bible Study
- Pray to the lord
- Reflect on God’s love and goodness
- Thank God daily for all that you have
- Practice humbleness
- Never place yourself above others
- Look for opportunities to serve
- Accept the need of God in your life
Additional Reading: