Avoid Pride

Pride means “It’s all about me.”  We live in a Self-centered world where everyone is looking for their own happiness at all cost, even when it means damaging other people in the process. The Scripture tells us the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world. (1 John 2:16, NLT2)

Have you bought into the “all about me” attitude that’s prevalent in our culture today? Even if you haven’t done it consciously, do you sometimes act that way? Do you always want to be first in line? Are you rude behind the wheel, trying to get ahead of everyone else? Do you want to have a better house, car or other possessions than those around you? Pride can rear its head in all kinds of ugly ways.

Pride’s family of behaviors includes conceit, self-righteousness, boasting, selfish ambition, showing off, vanity, and impatience. What does the Bible tell us about each one of this behavior rooted in pride?

Vain conceit And self-righteousness mean “excessive pride” or “self-esteem that has no foundation in reality”; conceit is an elevated and incorrect sense of self.

Excessive pride or conceit will affect all your relationships in a very negative way. Therefore, doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit means not letting our actions be motivated by selfishness or pride.  

If you are conceited or self-righteous, you probably want others to know how great you are. There are different ways you can do that. Three key terms for these strategies are boasting, showing off, and selfish ambition.

This kind of people like boasting about how much money they make, they like boasting about what they have accomplished or purchased or experienced. It is all meant to impress others. Scripture takes a realistic view of boasting. “When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much” (2 Corinthians 10:18).

In addition to attracting attention to oneself with words, a person can do the same through actions. That’s showing off. They want to make sure people see their new car or fancy clothes, they're trying to get the world’s attention, trying to tell people “look at me!” Is this acceptable behavior in God’s eyes? “Don’t try to impress others," Philippians 2:3

We are told in God’s Word that if we want to boast, we should learn to boast about the right thing. “This is what the LORD says: ‘Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. "Those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord’” (Jeremiah 9:23–24).

Selfish ambition:  can be understood as “motivation to elevate oneself or to put one’s own interests before another’s.” The opposite of being selfish and vain is to “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” (Philippians 2:3–4, ESV).

The Bible warns us about the consequences of selfishness, For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:16, NIV)

We must learn to be others-focused, not self-focused. If we’re putting others first, we won’t be conceited or proud or overly ambitious. It’s hard to be self-important when we’re considering others as more important. “Real love is when you act for the best interest of others rather than for you own interest.”

We don’t have to be so concerned about our own interest because God is! When you really grasp the truth that God loves you and he cares for everything about you, then you can rest knowing that God is in control! Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:24, NLT2)

Impatience: I need to confess that I was shocked when I learned that impatience was rooted in pride when I look around and notice that almost everyone around me is impatient. We naturally want to be first in line, first in receiving that promotion at work, first in getting the reward.

However, here is the key: Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. It means that it won’t come naturally, you need to choose to be patient with yourself and others every day. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12, NLT2)

When we understand the incredible sacrifice, grace, and mercy of God on our behalf, we realize that we have no use for pride. When we recognize God’s abundant grace, provision, and love, we understand that we have no need for selfishness. Rather than be motivated by selfishness or pride, we can learn to love others and put their interest before our own.

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