Bible Study on Pride: Overcoming Its Allure
This short Bible study on pride reveals its haughty and abiding nature. It approaches subtly so it’s nearly impossible to recognize.
Pride (haughty eyes) is number one on God’s list of seven things He hates in Proverbs 6. And as Proverbs 16:18 indicates, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Solomon (considered the writer of Proverbs) would know. He started out serving God and then sought foreign women as wives.
Pride marches ahead of us in arrogance and superiority. To be quite honest, until I learned that humility was not on my spiritual radar, pride was a constant companion. In one brief, limelight moment, I quickly learned the meaning of 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).
God did me a favor. He exposed the characteristics of the spirit of pride in my life. Here’s how it happened and it’s not pretty.
Years ago I sang often in churches. People compared my voice to Sandi Patty’s. One night while singing at a packed-out church, God got my full and undivided attention. All the congregants had stony faces. He was about to teach me a lesson about humility vs. pride. In the fellowship hall, people kept extending accolades. I thought, “Wow, that must have been awesome!”
Then I drove home. A dark feeling loomed around me. “God, what?” He replied, “You have a heart condition.” A word came to mind quickly—bypass. Spiritually, that’s what I needed.
My heart fractured by pride was impersonal and artistic. Instead of ministering the Gospel message of salvation, my intent was pulling off a grand slam performance. Ouch! My heart and motives were in direct opposition to God’s and He said so. The spiritual condition of the churchgoers never entered my mind.
Wow, what a despicable and stupid mistake. Ugliness and shame washed over me.
Bible Study on Pride: Make Immediate Changes
I stopped singing from that day forward because I exalted talent over servanthood. God would need to change my heart before I ever sang again. To this day, I won’t sing unless my heart is humble.
Pride may be in my past, but it’s always ready to be part of my future. When that spirit tries to take over, I resign myself to God and tell pride to take a hike.
Biblical pride has its sleazy beginning from Satan himself. Once when teaching a Sunday school class about pride, I asked God for something “new” to share with the students. He said, “Satan switched the words, ‘Great I Am’ to ‘I am great’.”
I was shocked by that statement but immediately realized that Satan’s prideful attitude against God’s character defines biblical pride perfectly.
Bible Characters Who Struggled with Pride
Do you know any conceited and condescending people impressed with their self-importance? I watch people and wonder why they don’t run into walls because their noses are high in the sky. Their uppity appearance is downright comical to watch. Pride showed its characteristics through attitudes and conduct. Here are a few examples from the Bible.
God loved the stubborn and willful wilderness Israelites. They didn’t fake obedience when rebellious pride ruled. God continued to love Eve when she sinned contemptuously against Him. Pride overtook her heart convincing her she knew more than her Creator – how dumb was that?
King David let pride and lust rule his heart by sleeping with another man’s wife and knew doing so was wrong. He didn’t face the truth about himself for a year until the prophet Nathan pointed it out.
What’s true in all these examples of pride?
God isn’t held in high esteem if you think you’re the cat’s pajamas.
Bible Study on Pride: It’s Deceptive
Pointing out a person’s pride to them normally has this result. They blame everyone else and remain complacent about their own hubris.
It’s easier to expose someone else’s sin for what it is and sidestep your own wickedness. Other people do worst things than you – right?
When I was prideful, pride covered my eyes with an invisible shield blinding me. Another’s sin glares at us while we see ourselves as totally innocent. Am I the only one who does that?
Pride deceives you (sounds like Satan is involved) so you depend on your abilities. Prideful Christians stray so far from God that they don’t see their need for a Savior. They forget about grace, the blood of Jesus, and redemption.
Bible Study on Pride: It Glories in Self
When you crave attention more than anything else, you migrate toward “powerful” people who acknowledge your presence. Instead of basking in God’s glory, pride ushers in the poison of self-worship so you’re nowhere near God’s presence. You concentrate on how people perceive you, what others can do for you, and how to get them to adore you.
On the other hand, by staying connected to God, He resurrects, changes, exalts humility, and transforms a Christian from the inside out. When you don’t tap into God’s glory, you’re powerless to minister life to others.
How To Get Rid of Pride
Change your focus and to combat pride successfully. I often joke that I keep my face in a bottle but even that’s a form of vanity. I don’t intend to go without makeup but I don’t believe putting on a prettier face keeps me on an even keel spiritually. Engaging in prideful behavior doesn’t happen when God is my all in all.
I also ask God to reveal behavior that I may not recognize as pride. For instance, when I allow fear and anxiety to rule my life, I don’t trust God. I rely on what I can do instead of turning over my concerns to God and remaining peaceful.
Don’t be afraid to allow God to point out a potential pride problem. He won’t hurt you. He knows how to correct us without damaging our self-esteem.
If I see others as less “anything” compared to me, I put myself on a pedestal that I’ll fall from – hard. What comes out of my mouth is the clearest indicator of what’s inside. If I’m critical, think my way is the only way, or resist serving others, it’s time for me to examine my heart.
I want to become humble which means “having a sense of one’s littleness” compared to God so I can truly serve others. Additionally, I search scripture to learn how to get rid of pride biblically.