Seven Deadly Sins: Pride

by Lawrence Kelley

First there is arrogance directed at God. This occurs when men expressly deny His being or when they simply refuse to acknowledge His authority over them. Arrogance lies at the heart of atheism. The idea that there is a being infinitely superior to me in every way; a being with the power and authority to tell me how to live my life and will one day call me into His office to review my performance is more than some are willing to tolerate. This explains the two contradictory and yet fundamental tenants of dogmatic atheism. One: There is no God. Two: I hate Him. Then there are those who do not deny the existence of God, but behave as if did, such as old king Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:29-35). The characteristics of such impudence include:

A mind devoid of God-thoughts: The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts (Ps 10:4).

He recognizes no standard above himself: For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, 'No one sees me'; Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; And you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me.' (Isa 47:10).

Nothing that even approaches the sound of gratitude passes his lips: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave him thanks (Rom 1:21)

Second we have arrogance directed at man. Like envy, this form of pride thrives on comparison. Envy is the ill will that creeps in when we observe someone besting us in some way; pride is that feeling of self-importance we get when we perceive ourselves to be superior in some way to those with whom we are comparing ourselves. This means that "Pride is essentially competitive." Pride takes no particular pleasure in what it has, but only in the fact that it has more or better than the next man. This means that people are not proud of being attractive, rich, popular or smart, but in being prettier, richer or smarter than their rivals. It is the comparison that makes you proud, the pleasure of being above the rest. Though the heart of man can take pride in anything, we want to notice a few that frequently beset us.

Knowledge - In dealing with the Corinthians who's two fundamental issues were pride and envy, the apostle Paul said, Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Cor 8:1). Now knowledge is a good thing when rightly handled, but like all goods, we can pervert its use and become arrogant, or use it to exploit those who are less informed. Knowledge must bow before love or it will become the source of pride and other evils.

Wealth - The have not's temptation is to envy, and the haves is to pride. Paul tells the preacher what to preach in regards to the wealthy. He says, Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy (1 Tim 6:17). God created all things and has given us the power to convert our resources into wealth. Gratitude and generosity are the attitudes becoming of the wealthy.

Talent - This was the occasion for much strife in Corinth. Those with particularly impressive abilities were filled with pride and those who lacked them with jealousy, but Paul tells them that love was the greatest gift and the greatest way to attain a genuinely high position in the kingdom.

High Religious Standards - The heart of man can take pride in Anything including his fine upstanding Christian Character. We are familiar with the Lord's story of the two men who went up to the temple to pray. In this story we see that some men are willing to feign humility before God in order to demonstrate their moral superiority to everyone who falls short of their high religious standards. In this they spend a ounces worth of pride before God in order to exact a pound of pride from their fellow man.

This brings us to consider a cure for pride. Two things are required.

First the acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God ...For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1 Cor 4:6-7).

Second, we must reverse the direction of our boasting. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD (Ps 34:2). Let him who boasts boast in the Lord (2 Cor 10:17). But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal 6:14).

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This page was last modified on June 6, 2007