This is what the Bible Say About Pride and Self-Righteousness.
Two greatly ingrained problems the Bible frequently and directly tackles are pride and self-righteousness. God fights arrogance and advises us to distance ourselves from self-righteousness. Although on the surface, these viewpoints appear spiritual, the Bible shows how destructive they are.
Pride: The Heart That Lifts Itself
Pride is presented in the Bible as among the most deadly states of the human heart. Its more than merely arrogance. Pride is the inner attitude that says, I don’t require God. It reduces our need for grace by centering ourselves.
Simply stated: Pride comes before ruin; a lofty attitude comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). This is not just a lyrical expression. It’s a warning. Pride causes spiritual blindness, fractured relationships, and ultimately failure. The arrogant heart battles to acknowledge flaw, ignores advice, and resists correction.
Clear echoes of the same thought may be found in James 4:6: God fights against the arrogant but extends grace to the humble. Pride, in effect, sets us straight against God rather than merely pulling us away from Him.
Self-Righteousness: The Delusion of Moral Superiority
Self-righteousness results from haughtiness donning religious attire. It’s the attitude that says either I’m good enough on my own or I’m better than others since I abide by the laws. Particularly when conversing with the Pharisees, Jesus tackled this head-on.
Jesus recounts a Pharisee and a tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee brags about his fasting and tithing, thanking God that he is not like the sinful man next to him. But the tax collector just says, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. The parable concludes with a blow: Everyone who elevates himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be elevated.
This is the center of the problem. Self-righteousness obstructs remorse. It makes us believe we don’t need grace. The Bible calls it sin, not just foolishness.
Humility: The Cures for Both
Humility is the medicine if pride and self-righteousness are the sickness. Over and over, the Bible elevates humility as the road to harmony with God.
Micah 6:8 states it straightforwardly: What more does the Lord ask of you but to act fairly, to love compassion, and to go humbly with your God? Humility is not insecurity or self-loathing. It’s a correct view of who we are, considering who God is. It’s not looking less of you. It’s a consideration of less of yourself.
Grace opens room for humility. It keeps the heart supple, malleable, and truthful. Most of all, it brings us back to reliance on God, which is the start of actual strength.
Jesus: the epitome of modesty.
Talking about pride and self-righteousness calls to be talking about Jesus. He had every right to brag, but never did. Philippians 2 reminds us that He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even though He was in God’s form. He took the form of a servant.
Jesus imparted not just humility. He experienced it. That is also what makes the gospel so potent. It begs us to trust in Him rather than to show our value.
Conclusion
Pride or self-righteousness should have no place in the lives of Christians. They obstruct our judgment, divide us from God, and prevent our development. The Bible also presents us with a better path: humility, grace, and genuine dependency on the Lord.
Do not hide it if you are fighting self-righteousness or pride. Show it to the public. God does not condemn an honest heart. Mercifully, you can amend your ways.