The “pride of life” is a biblical concept that refers to an unhealthy pride and self-confidence in one’s own resources, wealth, abilities, and accomplishments. It is one of the three sources of sin and temptation mentioned in 1 John 2:16: “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.”
This type of pride is often contrasted with humility and reliance on God. It stems from a focus on worldly values and a trust in human strength rather than divine providence. The “pride of life” can manifest in arrogance, self-promotion, greed, obsession with status, and a preoccupation with keeping up appearances. It ultimately leads to an inflated sense of self-importance and a diminished reliance on God.
Old Testament Warnings Against Pride
The Old Testament contains many warnings against the dangers of pride and self-sufficiency apart from God. For example:
– Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” This warns that pride leads ultimately to ruin.
– Isaiah 2:12 – “For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low.” God will bring down that which exalts itself.
– Jeremiah 9:23 – “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.” These human qualities are not worthy objects of boasting.
– Ezekiel 28:2 – A rebuke to the king of Tyre for his arrogant heart: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god.” Pride leads to self-deification.
So the Old Testament clearly associates pride with downfall, warning God’s people against self-sufficiency and calling them to rely on the Lord instead of their own limited wisdom and resources. Pride is rooted in a mistaken view of reality that fails to acknowledge God’s supreme worth and human dependence on Him.
New Testament Warnings Against Pride
The New Testament continues the theme of condemning pride while commending humility:
– James 4:6 – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Pride results in opposition from God Himself.
– 1 Peter 5:5 – “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” Again, humility is contrasted with pride.
– Luke 18:9-14 – The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable prays pridefully about his own righteousness while the tax collector humbly asks for mercy. Jesus declares that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
– 1 John 2:16 – “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.” Pride is associated with worldliness rather than God.
– Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Self-promotion is discouraged.
So the New Testament, like the Old, consistently portrays pride as spiritually dangerous and humility as spiritually wise. Pride does not come from God but from the fallen values of the world. It should have no place in the lives of Christ’s followers.
Examples of Destructive Pride in the Bible
The Bible includes many stories that illustrate the destructiveness of unchecked pride:
– The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) – Ancient people, in their pride and self-importance, sought to build a tower to make a name for themselves apart from God. As a result, God confused their languages and scattered them.
– Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4) – This Babylonian king grew arrogant due to his wealth and power. God judged this pride by making Nebuchadnezzar live like an animal until he recognized God’s sovereignty.
– Herod (Acts 12:20-23) – When the people flattered Herod as a god rather than giving glory to the true God, Herod embraced this pride. As a result, God struck him down and he was eaten by worms.
– The Pharisees (Luke 18, Matthew 23) – Jesus strongly rebuked these religious leaders for their spiritual pride. Their desire for status, glory, and external righteousness made them blind to their own need for humility and repentance.
In case after case, the Bible shows how pride leads to downfall, in direct contrast to the blessings of humility. Unchecked pride distorts a person’s self-perception, setting them up for God’s opposition and judgment.
Causes of Destructive Pride
What leads people into the kind of unhealthy pride the Bible condemns? Here are some common causes:
– Forgetting our absolute dependence on God – Pride grows when we discount our reliance on God’s grace and act as though we are self-sufficient. In reality, “we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves” (BCP, 1928 Book of Common Prayer). Everything we have comes from God’s hand.
– Focusing on human comparisons rather than God’s standards – Pride can increase when we compare ourselves mostly to other people rather than measuring ourselves by God’s standards. But only God’s standards are absolute and truly matter in the end.
– Success, wealth, and power – These can tempt people to become arrogant and self-serving rather than staying humble and generous. But worldly status means nothing to God.
– Special talents and abilities – Natural talents can lead to an inflated view of self importance. But all our abilities come from God and should be employed only through His strength and for His glory.
– The affirmation of others – Flattery and praise, if not checked, can cultivate an unhealthy pride in oneself. We start believing our press and craving the spotlight. But only God’s assessment carries ultimate weight.
– Insecurity and fear – Ironically, pride can also stem from feeling inadequate. Some cope with insecurity by lashing out or bragging rather than finding their identity in Christ.
So experiences of success or insecurity, if not counterbalanced with perspective from Scripture, can potentially feed pride rather than humility. The antidote is grounding our identity completely in relationship with God.
God’s Judgment on Pride
Because pride is fundamentally idolatrous – esteeming ourselves higher than we ought – Scripture warns that God actively opposes the proud. Pride inevitably provokes God’s judgment and correction.
For example:
– Proverbs 16:5 – “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.”
– Isaiah 13:11 – “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.”
– Jeremiah 50:31-32 – “Behold, I am against you, O proud one, declares the Lord God of hosts, for your day has come, the time when I will punish you. The proud one shall stumble and fall, with none to raise him up.”
– 1 Peter 5:5 – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So Scripture makes it abundantly clear that God actively resists pride and ultimately brings down the arrogant and self-sufficient. Pride provokes His judgment rather than His aid.
God’s Blessing on Humility
In contrast to the perils of pride, the Bible commends the blessing and favor that God grants to those with humility:
– Proverbs 22:4 – “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” Humility brings blessing, not cursing.
– Isaiah 57:15 – “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” God makes His home with the humble.
– Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Humility brings nearness to the kingdom.
– James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” Exaltation comes after humility, not before.
– 1 Peter 5:6 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” Again, humility opens the door to God’s gracious exaltation in His timing.
Scripture consistently reveals that God hears the prayers of the humble, but rejects the proud (Psalm 138:6). He looks with favor on those who recognize their dependence on Him rather than boasting in their own power or accomplishments.
The Ultimate Model of Humility
The ultimate demonstration of kingdom humility found in Scripture is Jesus Christ Himself.
Though He was fully God, Christ willingly laid aside His divine privileges to become human and serve sinners (Philippians 2:6-8). The incarnation itself was an act of profound humility.
Jesus described Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). He washed His own disciples feet, presenting Himself as their servant rather than Lord (John 13:1-17).
Christ accepted rejection, mockery, and crucifixion without retaliation, trusting completely in God His Father (1 Peter 2:23). He modeled humility in the ultimate way through His atoning death on our behalf.
Believers are therefore instructed: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). The key to walking in humility is having the mindset of Christ, who laid aside all power and privilege for our salvation. His humility transforms our pride when we submit fully to Him as Lord.
Practical Steps to Cultivating Humility
How then can Christians today guard against pride and walk in the humility exemplified by Christ? Here are some practical suggestions:
– Pray David’s prayer from Psalm 139:23-24 – Ask God to reveal any pride in your heart so you can repent of it.
– Remember that everything you have comes from God – Your abilities, intelligence, possessions, privileges all originate in God’s undeserved grace, not your merit. Thank Him for giving you what you could never attain yourself.
– Volunteer to serve in humble roles – Do the jobs no one else wants, without fanfare. Seek to lift others up rather than promoting yourself. Die to ego.
– Confess your specific struggles to a trusted friend – Shining light on your pride helps defuse it. But choose a faithful friend who won’t use the knowledge to exalt themselves over you.
– Measure yourself by God’s standards, not just human comparisons – Don’t merely compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to Christ and His Word. Recognize how far you fall short of God’s perfect standards.
– Thank God after being corrected or criticized – Don’t become defensive. See it as an opportunity for growth in grace.
As Charles Spurgeon said, “Be not proud of race, face, place, or grace.” Ground your identity completely in Christ. He alone is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. Make it your aim to exalt Him rather than yourself.
The pride of life divides our focus, distorts reality, and provokes God’s opposition. But walking humbly with Christ aligns our steps with kingdom values for His glory. May each of us earnestly seek that kind of true humility.