Pride is a pretty popular American trait these days. But God's word doesn't
have the same opinion of it, as the world. This is not to be confused with
a healthy self-esteem - as someone has said "God don't make no junk," and
in fact, I believe that to underestimate our God-given abilities and our
value are both dishonest and dishonoring to our Creator, who loved us so
much He sent His son to die for us. Here is some of what the Bible
has to say regarding pride.
(Psa 75:5 NNAS) Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not
speak with insolent pride.
(Prov 11:2 NNAS) When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom.
(Prov 14:3 NKJV) In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
(Isa 2:17 NNAS) The pride of man will be humbled And the
loftiness of men will be abased; And the LORD alone will be exalted in that
day.
(Zep 2:9-11 NKJV) Therefore, as I live," Says the LORD
of hosts, the God of Israel, "Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people
of Ammon like Gomorrah; Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual
desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant
of My people shall possess them." 10 This they shall have
for their pride, Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats Against
the people of the LORD of hosts. 11 The LORD will be awesome
to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People
shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the
nations.
(Mark 7:21-23 NNAS) For from within, out of the heart
of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit,
sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 "All
these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.
(1 John 2:16 NNAS) For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is
not from the Father, but is from the world.
(1 Tim 3:2-6 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the
husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable,
able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy
for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one
who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all
reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own
house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not
a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation
as the devil."
(Prov 13:10 NKJV) "By pride comes nothing but strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.