The Bible has much to say about the dangers of putting oneself above God. Often referred to as idolatry or self-worship, elevating oneself to the status of a god goes against the core teachings of Scripture. Rather than seeking our own glory and desires, we are called to humble ourselves and submit to the lordship of Christ.
A few key principles the Bible lays out regarding the “god of self” include:
- Pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). When we are prideful and self-focused, it leads to our downfall.
- We are to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Christ (Luke 9:23). Rather than self-service, we are called to self-denial in service of God.
- We love ourselves over others when we make ourselves our functional “god” (2 Timothy 3:2). Self-love is contrary to the greatest commandment to love God and then love others.
- Covetousness and envy stem from self-idolatry (Galatians 5:26, James 3:16). When we desire what others have, we reveal our self-centered hearts.
- Boasting in our own achievements is foolish, since all good things come from God (1 Corinthians 1:31, James 4:16). Pride over our gifts and talents fails to acknowledge God as the giver.
In contrast to the mindset of self-glorification, Jesus instructs his followers to live with humility, esteeming others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Rather than seeking what benefits us, we are to seek the interest of others. Our identity and worth is to be found in Christ alone, not in our selfish pursuits.
The Bible warns that in the last days people will be “lovers of self” (2 Timothy 3:2). Our culture today often celebrates the autonomous self above all else. But Scripture makes clear this is a path to destruction. When we worship ourselves, we show disregard for the Lord who rightfully deserves all glory and honor.
The antidote to the pull of self-exaltation is finding our satisfaction in God. As Psalm 16:11 states, “In your presence there is fullness of joy.” When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). As we seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, everything we need will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33).
In summary, living for self amounts to idolatry, failing to acknowledge God’s rightful place in our lives. But when we exalt Christ, we find our true identity and purpose in serving Him. Our deepest satisfaction comes from pursuing His glory, not our own.
The Bible speaks extensively to why we must avoid the trap of self-worship:
1. Self-focus is rooted in pride, which God opposes
First and foremost, an obsession with self is rooted in pride, which God staunchly opposes. Proverbs 16:5 warns that “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord.” When our heart is filled with pride, we are positioning ourselves against God. James 4:6 reminds us, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
As 1 Corinthians 10:12 cautions, “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” When we think highly of ourselves, it inevitably leads to our downfall. Pride comes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Numerous examples in Scripture, from Nebuchadnezzar to Herod, illustrate how God humbles those who exalt themselves.
Rather than thinking we are “self-made” people, we must recognize that all our gifts and talents originate from God alone. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” Everything good in our lives is a gracious gift from God, not something we can take credit for.
2. Self-sufficiency lacks trust and reliance on God
Not only is pride the root issue of self-focus, but a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality lacks trust in God’s provision. When we think we can meet all our needs ourselves, we fail to rely on Him. Jesus emphasized our dependence on God when He said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Rather than trusting in ourselves, God calls us to trust in Him wholeheartedly (Proverbs 3:5-6). Our sufficiency must come from Christ (2 Corinthians 3:5). As humans, we are limited and dependent creatures who require God’s supernatural strength. Pride convinces us we have no need of divine help, leading us down a path of human striving apart from faith.
When challenges arise, self-dependence forgets to turn to God in prayer. Those who exalt themselves fail to humbly seek the Lord for wisdom and provision. Scripture urges us to consistently rely on the Holy Spirit working within us. Zechariah 4:6 declares, “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
3. Selfish living contradicts Jesus’ call to self-denial
One of the pillars of following Jesus is denying self. As Luke 9:23 states, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Saying “no” to our fleshly desires allows Christ’s life to be manifested in us. The more we learn to surrender our agenda to God’s will, the more we become reflections of His selfless nature.
Philippians 2:3-4 admonishes us to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The self-focused life is contrary to the call of Jesus.
As Galatians 2:20 declares, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Our old self-consumed identity dies when we trust in Christ. We become new creations devoted to God’s purposes.
4. Self-glorification robs God of proper worship
Human beings are created to worship God. Our highest purpose is to glorify Him with our lives. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 states, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” When we usurp glory for ourselves, it is robbery from the King who deserves all honor and praise.
Revelation 4:11 declares, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Our rightful posture is one of awe and gratitude toward our Creator. Self-worship inevitably diminishes our capacity to revere God.
Furthermore, self-glorification lacks perspective on our place in relation to the Almighty. Psalm 8:4 asks rhetorically, “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” We are but dust before an all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal God. Any glory belongs to Him alone.
5. Christ exemplified sacrificial, selfless living for us
The ultimate example of selfless living is Jesus Christ. Though He was God in the flesh, Christ “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7). The Savior who deserved all glory humbled Himself to save us.
Jesus sacrificed His life to redeem us from sin and death. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). The cross epitomizes selfless sacrifice for the benefit of others. As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect His humility and servant heart.
Jesus lived not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). He submitted Himself fully to the Father’s will for our salvation. Our selfish desires must be regularly denied as we grow to become more like our self-giving Savior. As 1 John 2:6 states, “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
6. Self-absorption twists our God-given purpose
Humanity was created in God’s image, designed to reflect His glory through our lives. We are called to exercise dominion and stewardship over creation, ruling it in loving service the way God graciously rules over us. When turned inward, these roles get distorted to self-serving ends antithetical to God’s design.
Instead of stewards, we become manipulators of people and creation for personal gain. We exercise twisted dominion through exploitation, greed and abuse of power. And we seek to remake others in our own image, imprinting our agenda onto people rather than honoring how God uniquely formed them.
Only when our focus shifts from self to serving Christ do we align with our Creator’s purpose. As Ephesians 2:10 states, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Our meaning and mission is found in living for God’s glory.
7. Those who follow Christ must deny themselves and identify with Him
Perhaps most emphatically, the New Testament underscores that following Jesus necessitates denying self and shifting our identity to Christ. Jesus said in Luke 14:26-27, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Our allegiance must be wholly to Him.
Galatians 2:20 declares, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Our old self-identity dies when we trust in Christ. We now live to magnify Jesus through our life.
This does not negate our unique personhood, but reorients who we live for. Our fulfillment is found in surrender to God’s will. As we deny ungodly desires, the Spirit empowers us to bear His fruit. Living selflessly like Jesus demonstrates genuine salvation.
8. God gives grace to the humble, but opposes the proud fixation on self
One of the paradoxes highlighted in Scripture is that God gives grace to the humble, but opposes the proud. James 4:6 states, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” When we think highly of ourselves, God resists us. But when we humble ourselves, He pours out His favor.
Psalm 138:6 highlights this truth as well: “For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.” The Lord is near to those who exhibit humility, but distance from the self-centered. A prideful focus on self crowds God out of our lives, resulting in His opposition.
But the truly humble are enriched by God with wisdom, joy and peace. As Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” The self-absorbed lack godly insight. But the humble walk securely in God’s abundant provision for those who trust in Him.
9. Self-focused living is rooted in earthly wisdom, not God’s truth
James 3 contrasts the difference between earthly wisdom, which is self-centered, and godly wisdom, which is pure and peace-loving. Verse 14 states, “If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.” Selfish ambition flows from human thinking, not God’s truth.
But James goes on to state in verse 17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Wisdom from God exhibits sacrifice, mercy and sincerity – the opposite of a self-promoting heart.
Proverbs 14:12 also warns that “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Living according to the world’s standards – elevating self – seems reasonable but leads to destruction. God calls us to live by higher truths centered around love for Him and others.
10. The gospel is the antidote to a mindset of self-exaltation
The ultimate cure for the temptation to elevate ourselves is glorifying what Christ accomplished for us. At the cross, Jesus paid the full penalty for our sins, removing our guilt and granting us new life in Him. Our righteousness comes not from self but from Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” We contribute nothing to our salvation – it is a free gift of grace. Therefore we have no grounds to boast in ourselves.
As those purchased by the Savior’s blood, our lives are His. 2 Corinthians 5:15 states, “He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” The gospel transforms self-worship to God-worship. We now live to make Christ’s supreme worth known.
When we focus on the cross, our right standing before God, and Christ’s sufficiency for us, we find true freedom from self-reliance. Our identity is hidden in Him. We live not by self-effort but by relying on God’s empowering grace each day to deny sin and follow Jesus. Our meaning comes not from self-glorification but from glorifying the One who redeemed us from futility.