Few sins are as sneaky and difficult to detect as pride. This is why I want to talk about just that and the sin of pride in the Bible. As you know, there are lots of variations of “pride.” Some of them are good. Caring for one’s appearance can be a healthy pride. Taking pride in yourself could be associated with behaving like a respectable human being. That pride is celebrated, at least in my opinion.
However, as Christians, we must be aware of it and how God defines it. This way, we can prevent it from seeping into our daily lives.
Interesting.
What is the sin of pride in the Bible?
Pride is a deeply ingrained sense of self-importance, often manifesting as an inflated ego or an excessive belief in one’s own abilities, achievements, or qualities.
Kids on the playground used to call it getting the “big head.”
It involves an attitude of superiority over others.
Whether overtly expressed or subtly implied, it can lead to behaviors of arrogance, stubbornness, and a lack of empathy or understanding toward others.
Does any of this sound familiar in your own life?
Pride typically involves an exaggerated sense of self-worth that diminishes the value of others’ perspectives or contributions.
I see this a lot in self-righteous Christians.
Self-righteousness is all about feeling one is better than someone else.
This is often because someone goes to church more, is involved in more ministries, or has more biblical knowledge.
This is pride.
Such pride can prevent these individuals from recognizing their weaknesses and seeking help when necessary.
Further, they might be classic “know-it-alls” and eschew accepting constructive criticism.
Ultimately, pride is characterized by a focus on oneself that can be detrimental to healthy relationships, personal growth, and spiritual fulfillment.
Do you know anyone with this issue?
Pride is often seen in the Bible as a main sin that causes spiritual downfall and separation from God.
Proverbs 16:18 (NIV) succinctly states, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” This verse encapsulates the biblical warning against arrogance and self-importance, emphasizing that prideful attitudes precede inevitable ruin and loss.
Pride is portrayed not merely as a character flaw but as a profound spiritual error (or sin) that distances us from humility, which is central to righteousness and dependence on God.
Similarly, pride is condemned throughout Scripture for its role in fostering disobedience and rebellion.
Pride makes us act a total fool.
In Isaiah 14:12-15 (NIV), the downfall of the King of Babylon is described metaphorically, highlighting his prideful desire to exalt himself above God: “But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.”
This scripture illustrates perfectly how pride leads to a desire for self-glorification and autonomy, ultimately resulting in divine judgment and punishment.
The Bible teaches that true wisdom and righteousness come from trusting in God and following His will, while prideful self-sufficiency leads to destruction.
Pride is like a peacock at a dance party—showy, colorful, and always convinced everyone else came just to see it strut!
Be careful of a prideful spirit – especially when you need help.
I was so sinfully proud.
My mom was ill for a couple of years.
Before she transitioned to the be with the Lord, I was incredibly overwhelmed caring for her.
Financially, I had spent all I had on her care – even more of my retirement. I do not regret it at all.
In addition to spending all my money, I was also just ‘spent’ as I was physically there for her.
There I was, paying thousands of dollars for people to help me care for her, but I would stay there and watch them – even though I knew and trusted the person 100%.
One day, she said, “You look so tired; I have Mother taken care of; please go rest.”
Remember, I trusted this person, and so did my mom. But for some reason, I felt I needed to be there to make sure everything was perfect.
That is a form of pride.
Another form was when people asked to help me, and I would refuse. After all, I was … well, me. I was the “handler” and could take care of anything!
Pride.
I was hiding my struggle out of pride.
Have you ever felt the way I described a Christian Woman?
Have you ever felt overcome or defeated in a hardship?
Hard times find us all.
During our hard times, I think it’s important to be authentic and not hide behind a “perfect” or “in control” image.
We often choose not to show our struggles in order to hide our vulnerability and maintain a perfect image.
However, being humble and sharing our struggles with others is crucial.
So, why pretend to be immune to life’s challenges? It is not good in God’s eyes, and it is prideful. It’s the same kind of pride that is condemned in the Bible. This kind of pride never has a good outcome—just look at Saul’s example!
I want to be like the men and women of the Bible. They always had problems, and they didn’t hide it! I’m not going to hide it either!
I will not let the sin of pride in the Bible infect me.
May my life show how much I need Jesus!
Look, Christian Lady, I am no one from nowhere.
Everyone I encounter must know that so God can get the glory out of my entire life.
I must remember that too, to maintain a proper perspective of who I am…and who I am not!
Pride is a wicked, sneaky thing. It manifests in so many ways. Preserving one’s image is at the very heart of pride.
It is OK not to be OK. I heard someone say that on television this morning, and I think it is so true for Christians to understand that.
May the world know how much we [Christians] need one another!
Another way pride pops up is in us not being willing to accept help.
As a black woman, I struggle with this one. For so many years, we have heard pride associated with our culture. Being a proud black woman is often associated with not needing help. How faulty this is and how difficult it is to sometimes deprogram ourselves from this misnomer.
While it sounds noble, this is one of the most dangerous manifestations of pride, and I am been guilty of it.
Very often, when offered help, I decline it. I always feel I should be able to handle anything that comes my way. As I type this, I realize how stupid that is.
God created us to need one another. His provision and love often come through other people. It is a horrible trick of the enemy to block the blessings, support, and help that may come from human beings on this side of heaven.
Remember this about the pride in the Bible.
As you go through life, please do not hold in or hide your struggles.
Suffering in silence is ill-advised.
No honor exists in doing it.
It is a deception of the enemy.
As I write this, a very famous and seemingly happy person took his own life. He suffered in silence, I’ll bet.
Please, do not let yourself do that. If you’re struggling, say so.
You may find that people you had no clue cared about you actually do! You may be shocked by how quickly they will step in and step up for you.
One of my tribes …
I am immensely blessed to be part of a sisterhood of women at my church. These women have shown up for one another time and time again.
We all share similar journeys because we are married to ministers.
When I agreed to lead this ministry, it was incredibly important to me that we become extensions of God’s love for one another. Nothing else really mattered.
I could care less about sitting in the same place to be “seen”, wearing similar colors on special days, or anything else cliquish.
My prayer was that God would create a microcosm of His kingdom among these women, and He did. After my previous post, many of them stepped in to encourage and support me.
I was overwhelmed by phone calls, texts, and a card I will forever keep in my Bible because the words were so powerful and poignant.
All this manifested because they knew about my struggle. I did not hide it from them.
Please do not hide yours either.
God has a way of walking around in flesh and blood and providing everything you need, from encouragement to earthly provisions.
However, it may NOT happen if you opt to suffer in silence.
By sharing that you need help, you will also gain experiences and spiritual strength that can help you be more effective in the kingdom.
Life had been too good!
For years, my life was hunky-dory.
Sure, I’ve had small challenges, but nothing earth-shattering.
On the other hand, this current season has provided earth-shattering turmoil.
I am grateful for it, though. Despite being very hard, the struggles are humbling me. They are teaching me to rely on God as He manifests Himself in new and mind-blowing ways.
Without these devastatingly hard times, I couldn’t experience Him as God Almighty, God my banner, or Jehovah Jireh – God my Provider!
As David said in Psalms 119:71, “It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”
It is good for me too.
The struggles are training me.
They are equipping me, and like a Holy Ghost gym, they are strengthening me.
Just think, if an oyster never had that piece of sand, there would be no pearls! Selah. Think about that. Don’t get discouraged with your “piece of sand.”
Hey, thank you so much for reading.
I pray God blesses you as you go through your own challenges and trials.
I pray that you openly share them with those in your life so you can get the support you need and minister to those who are “yet to come” into your life or yet to go through a journey such as yours.
The sin of pride in the Bible will distance you from the very One (and ones) who can help. Don’t make my mistake.
I love you, Christian Sister! Thanks for reading!
Bible Scriptures about pride and Godly humility
The wicked sin of pride in the Bible is very copiously mentioned in the Word.
Here are some ideas you can do with these scriptures: put these scriptures in your calendar to pop up on random dates. Or memorize them. Journal about them. You can even just highlight them in your Bible to grab your attention in the future.
Psalm 131:1
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.
Jeremiah 49:16
“The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.”
James 4:6
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5
“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Luke 14:11
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Proverbs 16:2
“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”
Proverbs 21:2
“All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.”
It may seem ok to hide your pain, Girl, but don’t.
Proverbs 13:10
Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Isaiah 2:12
The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled),
Isaiah 23:9
The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendor and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 18:12
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Note: do you think it is a coincidence that so many scriptures about pride are found in Proverbs – the book of wisdom?
Maybe humility is at the very heart of wisdom, right? In being humble, we are teachable. Humility is part of the strength to say “Help!”. The proud would never do that.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3
2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Colossians 3:12–13
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, …
2 Chronicles 7:13–15
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
Romans 12:3
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.
Psalm 149:4
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:28-29
God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Philippians 2:8
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
A FANTASTIC Sermon on Pride
Don’t be the frog in the story. :)
