Pride: The Sweet Poison That Binds
Pride. The word tastes sweet but turns sour quickly, doesn’t it? You carry it like a shield, convincing yourself it’s strength, but be honest—how often has it become a wall, keeping others out? Your pride whispers that you’re right, you’re better, you’re untouchable. But here’s the truth: pride doesn’t make you strong; it makes you blind. It keeps you from apologizing when you’re wrong, forgiving when you’re hurt, or admitting you need help. It tells you you’re standing tall while it’s actually cutting you off at the knees.
What relationships have you strained because swallowing your pride felt too much like losing? What opportunities have you lost because being vulnerable seemed beneath you? Pride thrives in silence, in stubbornness, in your refusal to let go of control. But let me ask you—when was the last time your pride truly served you? Did it heal you? Did it bring you closer to those you love? Or has it left you feeling hollow, disconnected, and alone?
Maybe it’s time to put it down. Pride might protect your ego, but humility heals your soul. Take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself: are you strong enough to let it go?
The Bible doesn’t mince words when it comes to pride. It calls it what it is: sin. Proverbs 16:18 warns us plainly, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride isn’t strength—it’s a precursor to ruin. It blinds us to truth, hardens our hearts, and distances us from God. It whispers lies, convincing us we don’t need Him, that we can do it all on our own. But Scripture reminds us over and over: pride is the enemy of grace.
In James 4:6, it’s written, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Imagine that—your pride doesn’t just hurt you; it actively puts you at odds with God. And yet, He invites you to something better. In humility, there’s freedom. When you let go of pride, you make room for God’s power to work in your life.
Consider Jesus Himself—the King of Kings, who had every reason to exalt Himself, yet humbled Himself to death on a cross. Philippians 2:8 says, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Jesus showed us that humility isn’t weakness; it’s the ultimate strength. He didn’t cling to His rights or His glory but gave them up for the sake of love.
So, ask yourself: Are you holding onto pride at the cost of your soul? Are you so focused on elevating yourself that you’ve forgotten who gave you the very breath in your lungs? God calls us to humble ourselves—not because He wants to humiliate us, but because He wants to lift us up. As 1 Peter 5:6 reminds us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”
Let go of the pride that isolates and destroys. Embrace the humility that connects you to God, restores your relationships, and transforms your heart. True strength isn’t found in exalting yourself—it’s found in bowing low before the One who reigns above all.
The first and most devastating instance of pride in the Bible comes from Lucifer, the most beautiful and exalted of all the angels. Once a guardian cherub, Lucifer’s pride led to his downfall, and with it, the origin of sin itself. In Isaiah 14:12-15, we see the heart of his rebellion:
“How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.”
Lucifer’s pride caused him to desire the throne of God Himself. Notice his repeated words: “I will ascend.” His ambition was self-focused, not God-focused. Instead of worshiping God, he sought to be worshiped. This is the root of pride—it seeks to elevate self at the expense of truth and righteousness.
Ezekiel 28:17 elaborates further on Lucifer’s fall: “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.” Lucifer’s pride not only corrupted him but also led to his eternal separation from God. His punishment serves as a warning to us: unchecked pride leads to destruction.
Lucifer’s pride didn’t just destroy him; it infected all of creation. Through his deceit, he planted that same prideful rebellion in the heart of humanity. In the Garden of Eden, he tempted Adam and Eve with the same lie that consumed him: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). This is the essence of pride: the desire to elevate oneself to a place only God deserves.
But unlike Lucifer, who was cast out without redemption, humanity has hope. Through Jesus Christ, God made a way for us to be restored. Yet that path requires humility. It requires us to acknowledge that we are not, and never will be, like God in power, wisdom, or authority. It requires us to kneel before the throne, not try to take it.
Lucifer’s fall is a sobering reminder of pride’s power to destroy. If pride could corrupt an angel in God’s presence, how much more must we guard against it in our own hearts? But the beauty of God’s grace is this: while pride separates, humility restores. As Christ teaches in Matthew 23:12, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Let Lucifer’s fall be your warning, and Christ’s humility be your example. Choose wisely.
