Let’s dive into a topic that’s a bit tricky but oh-so-important for our spiritual growth: pride.
We all struggle with it at times, whether we realize it or not. Pride can sneak into our lives and make us rely on our own strength and wisdom instead of depending on God.
When this happens, it leads us away from His guidance and protection. So, let’s see why pride is so dangerous and how we can cultivate humility to stay close to God.
The Subtle Nature of Pride
First off, let’s acknowledge that pride is a subtle and sneaky thing.
It’s not always about being arrogant or boastful. Sometimes, it’s simply an attitude of self-reliance that creeps into our hearts.
We start thinking we can handle everything on our own, without needing God’s help.
It can manifest in many ways, like not asking for help when we need it, refusing to admit when we’re wrong, or thinking we know better than others (and God).
Pride can be particularly dangerous because it’s often masked as confidence or competence. But there’s a fine line between healthy self-confidence and prideful self-reliance.
The key difference? Where we place our trust and whom we give credit.
Biblical Warnings About Pride
The Bible has a lot to say about pride, and none of it is good. Proverbs 16:18 famously tells us,
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
This verse is a stark reminder that pride leads to downfall.
When we’re full of pride, we’re setting ourselves up for failure because we’re relying on our limited understanding and strength instead of God’s infinite wisdom and power.
James 4:6 also gives us a clear warning:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Think about that for a moment. When we’re prideful, we’re actually putting ourselves in opposition to God.
That’s a pretty serious place to be! On the flip side, humility brings us into alignment with God’s will and opens the door for His grace and favor in our lives.
The Downside of Self-Reliance
When we rely on our own strength and wisdom, we’re essentially saying that we don’t need God.
This mindset not only distances us from His guidance and protection but also leads to stress and burnout.
We weren’t created to handle life’s challenges on our own. God designed us to depend on Him and to draw strength and wisdom from our relationship with Him.
Consider what Jesus said in John 15:5:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
This imagery highlights our need to stay connected to Jesus. Just as a branch can’t survive without the vine, we can’t thrive without a close relationship with Him.
When we’re prideful, we’re essentially cutting ourselves off from the source of life.
Examples of Pride in the Bible
To understand the consequences of pride, let’s look at a few biblical examples.
King Nebuchadnezzar
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is a classic example of pride leading to downfall.
In Daniel 4, we read about how he boasted about his achievements, saying, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30).
God’s response was swift and severe. Nebuchadnezzar lost his sanity and lived like an animal until he acknowledged God’s sovereignty.
His story is a powerful reminder that pride can lead to a dramatic fall.
The Pharisees
The Pharisees in the New Testament also exemplify pride.
They were religious leaders who prided themselves on their strict adherence to the law and looked down on others who didn’t meet their standards.
Jesus often rebuked them for their self-righteousness and lack of humility. In Matthew 23:12, Jesus said,
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
The Pharisees’ pride blinded them to their need for a Savior and kept them from experiencing God’s grace.
If studying the Bible better is on your list of things to do this year, be sure to visit our Bible Study Resources page where you’ll find everything you need to make Bible study a regular part of your daily routine.
Cultivating Humility
So, how can we combat pride and cultivate humility in our lives? Here are a few practical steps:
1. Acknowledge Your Dependence on God
The first step to humility is recognizing our need for God. We need to acknowledge that we can’t do life on our own and that we need His guidance, strength, and wisdom.
This starts with daily prayer and surrendering our plans to Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
2. Be Open to Correction
Pride often makes us resistant to correction and feedback.
To cultivate humility, we need to be open to the input of others, especially when it comes from wise and godly sources.
Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.”
Being teachable and willing to learn from our mistakes is a sign of true humility.
3. Serve Others
Jesus set the ultimate example of humility by serving others.
In John 13, He washed His disciples’ feet, demonstrating that true greatness comes from serving others.
We can follow His example by looking for opportunities to serve those around us, whether it’s through acts of kindness, volunteering, or simply putting others’ needs before our own.
Serving others helps shift our focus away from ourselves and keeps pride in check.
4. Give Credit to God
When good things happen in our lives, it’s easy to take the credit.
But humility means recognizing that all good things come from God. James 1:17 says,
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”
Let’s make it a habit to give God the glory for our successes and blessings, acknowledging His hand in everything.
5. Reflect on Jesus’ Humility
One of the best ways to cultivate humility is by reflecting on Jesus’ humility. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us,
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
When we keep Jesus’ example at the forefront of our minds, it helps us stay humble and reliant on God.
Friends, pride is a sneaky and dangerous thing that can lead us away from God’s guidance and protection.
But by acknowledging our dependence on Him, being open to correction, serving others, giving credit to God, and reflecting on Jesus’ humility, we can combat pride and cultivate a humble heart.
Remember, humility isn’t about thinking less of ourselves; it’s about thinking of ourselves less and trusting in God more.
Let’s strive to stay close to God, relying on His strength and wisdom instead of our own. When we do, we’ll experience the fullness of His guidance and protection in our lives.
Until next time, keep seeking God and walking in humility. God bless!
