Pride
Charles Finney once described pride as “a disposition to exalt self, to get above others, to hide our defects and to pass for more than we are.” It’s a powerful definition because it reveals something we often fail to see—pride isn’t just arrogance or boasting; it’s any posture of the heart that puts me at the center.
Charles Finney once described pride as “a disposition to exalt self, to get above others, to hide our defects and to pass for more than we are.” It’s a powerful definition because it reveals something we often fail to see—pride isn’t just arrogance or boasting; it’s any posture of the heart that puts me at the center.
Pride can be loud, seeking attention, craving recognition, and thriving on praise. But it can also be subtle, slipping into our thoughts and habits in ways we hardly notice:
A secret longing to be noticed
The desire to be first, to be admired, to be in control
Enjoying flattery a little too much
Feeling slighted when we’re overlooked
A tendency to steer conversations back to ourselves
And then there’s the deceptive side of pride—the one that masquerades as something else. It can look like self-reliance, insisting that we can handle things on our own. It can show up as self-centeredness, where our needs and desires take precedence over others. And, surprisingly, it can even take the form of self-condemnation—believing we’re not good enough, dismissing our worth, or shrinking back in false humility. This, too, is a form of pride because it focuses inward rather than upward.
If pride pulls us inward, humility turns us outward—toward God and toward others. James 4:7-10 gives us a clear invitation:
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:7-10 (NIV)
Humility isn’t about thinking less of ourselves, but rather thinking of ourselves less. It’s found in:
Serving where no one sees, with no expectation of credit
Receiving a gift or a compliment without needing to give back or deflect
Laying down ambition and entitlement
Seeing others as more important than ourselves
Walking in the footsteps of Jesus, who humbled Himself for our sake
Pride elevates self; humility surrenders self. Pride strives for recognition; humility serves in secret.
The good news? We don’t have to conquer pride alone. When we draw near to God, He reshapes our hearts. When we humble ourselves before Him, He lifts us up—not for our glory, but for His.
