My grandpa used to ask, “Do you want to see my pride and joy?” Then when you said yes, expecting to see a photo of something dear to his heart, he would show you a picture like this one. (He had a great sense of humor!) Since last week I wrote on what the Bible says about joy and this week I’m writing on pride, it made me think of my grandpa’s joke.
What is pride? Google defines pride as, “a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” There are two kinds of pride: one kind is a sense of accomplishment in a job well done, and the other is being full of ourselves and giving ourselves more glory than we give God.
Galatians 6:4 says, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” 2 Corinthians 7:4 says, “I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” These verses are examples of the first kind of pride, in which we are pleased with the accomplishments of ourselves or others.
The other kind of pride, the sinful one, is explained in Proverbs 8:13: “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Psalm 10:4 explains this further: “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Proverbs 27:2 says, “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” This pride puts ourselves as #1, not God.
We’re told about the consequences of pride in Proverbs 16:18-19: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
While there are numerous proverbs relating to pride, we also see warnings against it in the New Testament. Galatians 6:3 says, “If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.” 1 John 2:16 says, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” Philippians 2:3-4 says, “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.” Romans 12:16 says, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
Jesus even told a parable on pride, which is recorded in Luke 18:9-14. It tells of two people praying, one a Pharisee who prayed a very proud prayer, and the other a tax collector who prayed a humble prayer. In verse 14, the parable ends with Jesus saying, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
The first century church in Laodicea had their sin of pride addressed by Jesus in the book of Revelation. Revelation 3:17 says, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
How are you doing with pride in your life? Are you giving God the glory where it is due to Him, or are you taking that glory for yourself?
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