Pride and Arrogance in the Bible are prevalent because of the wickedness in the world. This is nothing new under the sun as Solomon says. And it has been going on since the beginning of time. It started in the Garden of Eden when Satan tempted Eve and questioned what she knew about what God had said. This is the beginning story of what there is to know about pride and arrogance in the Bible.
Pride and Arrogance: Not of this World
Pride and its evil twin, arrogance, are not what God wants for us. In our story about Adam and Eve, they could eat from every tree in the garden, except for one. They could not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why was this tree off-limits? Think about it. If you knew all there was to know about a specific hobby or sport, you wouldn’t need to do research about it online, attend webinars, or have additional training. You would be the expert and could teach others all about it, right?
If you had all the knowledge in the world about good and bad, that knowledge would eliminate the need for God.
In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
Psalm 10:4 ESV
The prideful person has their eyes focused on the things around them and desires them more than God.
How Eve’s Eyes Got Her in Trouble
After Eve listened to the serpent talk about the tree and knowledge, she looked up at them.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:6 ESV
Notice that she SAW the tree was good, it was a DELIGHT to the eye, and it was DESIRED to make a person wise. She was baited, switched, and gone!! This is an example of how pride and arrogance are not from God but from the world around us.
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
1 John 2:16 ESV
Our eyes help us to see things that we want and then those delights become full-blown desires. And if we act on them, that is when we get into trouble. We are following what satan and the world are peddling.
A Personal Example of Pride
I was prideful in my work and what I did in IS security. So much so, I felt important in what I did and the status that I had as a manager. Yet, the work wasn’t all about me. I wanted to get ahead and achieve great things. But my ambition was a selfish ambition, that is when your ambition takes over and it becomes all about you.
Thankfully, God pulled me out of the position I was in and put me in the department of the loving care of a sister in Christ. She knew that I was hurting from the loss that I had been dealt. The work wasn’t hard but it gave me a break from the stress and I was able to heal and look up to God. And keep my eyes focused on Him!!
God hates Pride and Arrogance
Not only did God want to keep the tree of knowledge of good and evil out of Adam and Eve’s line of sight because He knew that they’d want to replace Him with their knowledge. But bad pride and arrogance are sins that He hates.
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 ESV
The hatred for these things is because they are evil. And evil is the opposite of God. He is loving, kind, and full of grace and mercy for each one of us.
Solomon gives us the antidote to this evil. It is fearing God more than loving the evil intentions of this world. This fear is a reverence for Him and who He is. And these intentions follow the one who is against God and will do anything to prevent people from knowing and loving him.
What does the Bible say about Pride and Arrogance?
What does a proud person look like?
Those who have this evil pride in their lives are adorned with it. It surrounds them and is covered with it. Everything you know about this person seeps with evil.
Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
Psalm 73:6 ESV
Hopefully, we don’t know people who are like this. But if we do, we need to stir clear of them. And keep our loved ones from being enamored by the pull of these people. They may not be evil but fancy, have riches, and seem to have it all together. So much that we want to be like them.
However, the Psalmist in Psalm 73, realized that the wealth and wonderful things these people had weren’t of eternal value. When he went to God’s house, he learned how God is the one who satisfies and fulfills us. He realized that all the money and stuff in the world wouldn’t get them anywhere beyond this life. Their eternal end wouldn’t be with God.
He realized that there is nothing on this earth that is better than knowing God and His strength. And being with Him for all of eternity. Amen?
Whom have I in heaven but you?
Psalm 73:25-26 ESV
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Result of Pride
The proud person in Psalm 73 is going to have an awful eternity. But he will have hard times here on earth too. Solomon in Proverbs talks about how pride leads to destruction or things crashing down around them.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18 ESV
And they will have a haughty spirit that exalts themselves over others. Their big head will eventually trip them up so they will fall flat on their face. Have you seen this of public figures who seem to have everything but behind the scenes they are addicted to drugs, alcohol, or have had one bad relationship after another? The results of pride and evil are all around us.
Are there Good Types of Pride in the Bible?
Yes, there is! There are three types of pride in the Bible that are good.
1. Pride in your Work for God
When you have chosen to give God the glory for the work you have done, then that is a pride that is good. The focus isn’t on you, but the Almighty God who made you.
In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.
Romans 15:17 ESV
Go to your job and do it well. You can aim to please your boss, but remember in all of it, we are doing the job well to serve the Lord.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
Recently, I changed jobs. It was totally all God! I prayed about this position and every interview I asked Him to open the doors or slam them shut. The doors remained open so I took the offered position. I am working there for the Lord. When I hear from my boss that I am doing well, I say thanks. And as I walk away from the conversation, I tell the Lord, “To You be the Glory!” This job is about Him and not me. If there is more to this position and it results in some sort of promotion, that is cool. But that is not my intent, my heart is focused totally on doing my job well to please the Lord.
2. Being Proud of those You Cherish
When we are proud of our loved ones in our lives, that is a good pride to have. Paul told the Corinthians that he had great pride in them and was overflowing with joy for them!
I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
2 Corinthians 7:4 ESV
The other day, I had a social media memory pop up and I forwarded it to my son. In that message, I told him how proud I was that he was serving God and being such a great husband and father.
This type of pride is expressing our joy for the great work, accomplishments, or achievements that those around us have done. The type of pride is selfless and thinking about others. And it is quite the opposite of the selfishness of the pride and arrogance that is of this world.
3. Hold Fast to God’s Word & His Work
When we keep our focus on God and do what His Word says, we can be proud that we did not have a life of emptiness.
Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:16 ESV
I love how Paul says this in this verse. Holding fast in the greek means that we give attention to it. It is our sole ambition to delight God and do His plan for our lives. And when we do that, we can be proud, or have reason to boast, that we did not follow the emptiness of this life or wander from God’s truth.
Pride Impairs our Vision, But Humility Lifts Up
God hates pride and arrogance. It is vision-impairing. And it causes us to go down a path that has many bad consequences. But when we keep our sights on God, He lifts up the humble. With our eyes focused on Him and doing what God desires of us, we can enjoy God’s plan for our lives.
*****
Resource Library
Check out the resource library and all the things there you can download. There are Bible reading plans, Bible verses for your to download and memorize too. There is a new Bible reading plan for this month. These resources are all available for you by stopping by at Gods Plan Guided Steps
An Advent Book: The Book of Luke
This advent devotional by Susie is different than others. Most Christmas time devotionals are short and focus on the Scriptures one reads at Christmas. But this devotional contains the entire book of Luke – from the genealogy of Jesus, His birth to His death and resurrection.
Susie’s writing is easy to read and it makes me feel like I am sitting in the room listening to every word over a cup of coffee or tea.
Even though I received an Advanced Reader Copy of the book from the publisher, I am looking forward to soaking in every single word during this year’s advent season. Take the stress out of the Christmas season by making room for Jesus this Christmas. You won’t be sorry that you did! I liked this book so well that I bought extra copies for friends. I hope you will do so as well.
This book is found on Amazon or at other book retailer outlets.
