The other side of “pride”

From much of the discussion between Job and his three friends, it appears that Job may have had some issues with pride (e.g. Job 27:1-6) or may simply have been moved to defend himself and appeared more self-righteous because of this. In any case, the Bible is full of examples of pride and what it may lead to. Here some examples of the opposite of this type of attitude as well as some warnings against it as well as some models of how we should act – particularly with respect to our attitude toward God.

How would you describe the opposite of pride?

humble, not arrogant, down-to-earth, unpretentious
offered in a spirit of deference or submission


Can you give some examples of Biblical figures (or others) that have shown these characteristics?

could add any number – Joseph, David …..

Abraham - Genesis 18:27
Jacob - Genesis 32:10
Moses - Exodus 3:11, Numbers 12:3
Solomon - 1 Kings 3:7-9; 2 Chronicles 1:10, 2:6
Ahab - 1 Kings 21:29
Josiah - 2 Kings 22:18-19
Jeremiah - Jeremiah 1:6, 10:23-24
Daniel - Daniel 2:30

Elizabeth - Luke 1:43
Centurion - Matthew 8:8, Luke 7:6-7
Jesus – the ultimate example (see later)

One great example of contrasting attitudes is given in Luke 18:9-14 (all translations NIV)
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

What is the attitude of the Pharisee? Do we see this attitude today?

I am a “good” person and deserve my reward (i.e. I am “better” than this other “bad” person). By following the rules we earn our reward. It was this attitude that had become prevalent among Jewish religious leaders at the time of Christ.
I have seen this attitude many times inside and outside of churches.
This is the prevailing attitude of many people who don’t really understand Christianity and think that being “good” is what gets you into heaven.

What is the attitude of the tax collector? Why do you think that he was justified in the sight of God?

He didn’t try to justify himself or explain why he deserved God’s approval – he accepted the reality of his situation (i.e. that he didn’t deserve God’s love/support) – that he needed forgiveness.

Another example of pride – this time among the disciples (note this is repeated in three different gospels)

Luke 9:46-48 (also Matthew 18:1-4, Mark 9:33-35)
An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”
What is this really saying?

Even the people closest to Jesus failed to grasp the need for humility. We need to humble ourselves and help others – even those that may appear “weak” or somehow “lesser” in human terms as all are equal in the eyes of God (i.e. we all need his grace and salvation).

How should we act toward God? Look at these references and see what they are saying about what our attitude ought to be.

Isaiah 66:2
Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly[a] with your God.

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 22:4
Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.

2 Chronicles 7:13-15
13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

What is this saying to you?

True humility (see more on false humility later) is required in our relationship with God – we need to understand that we are not “equal” to God and that we cannot simply rely on our thoughts/reason/understanding/actions apart from God to solve our problems. Note that these Old Testament teachings were known among the religious leaders at the time of Jesus, but they had become so focused on the “law” that there attitude was really the opposite of that required by God.

Matthew23:1-11
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

What is Jesus saying here? What was the problem the “teachers” were having?
This is a direct addressing of the problem of those who think themselves “better” than others as illustrated in the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector earlier. I don’t think that this means we cannot act as instructors or leaders in some fashion, but we need to do so humbly and not exalt ourselves as “greater”or wiser than anyone else. We all benefit enormously from (and are grateful for) teachers (like Greg or Pastor Barnes or any of those at MPBC), but it is incorrect for anyone to view this as somehow making them greater or more worthy than someone else. (Note that these notes are only some of my thoughts and you should feel free to add your own insights).

Is all humility good? Is this attitude always correct? (see below)

Colossians 2:16-23
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Galatians 6:12-14

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Why should this be our attitude? What is important to remember in our relationship to God?

Sometimes we may be tempted to try and show how much better or wiser we are through some understanding or activity that we have performed. Once again this is not in accordance with what Christ taught. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try and follow God’s laws and teachings or share them with each other (like this discussion), but we need to be careful not to view these as somehow making us superior to others. Note that this is what the early Jewish Christians were attempting to do – first you become a Jew and “do” this (circumcision) and then you become more righteous. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with keeping a tradition such as circumcision (as Messianic Jews do today) as long as this is not done to show how this makes one superior to others.

Romans 12:3-8
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

1 Corinthians 3:18-23
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future —all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Philippians 2:2-4
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

I Peter 5:1-4
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

What is this saying to “church” people/leaders?

Christians (and particularly leaders) should set a good example, but not become prideful based on their abilities or achievements. It is very important (my opinion) to maintain a clear perspective – remembering that we are all sinners (see Romans 3:21-31) and that there is nothing we can “do” to earn salvation (see Ephesians 2:8-10). Also, how are we going to encourage people (especially anyone new to the faith) if we have an attitude of superiority? This is another important aspect of humility.

Jesus – a great illustration of what we should do (my opinion) – John 13:1-5, 12-17
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
…..
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Note that Christ set the example for us by deliberately doing one of the “lowest” tasks for people of his time (washing feet). The fact that he had “… all things under his power…” and still chose to humble himself should be a powerful example to us all of the importance of our attitude to God.

What about those who refuse to acknowledge the power of God?

Psalm 55:19
God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change—
he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

Proverbs 3:33-34
The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Read Isaiah 2

Matthew 23:13-36

Revelation 20:11-15

One very real problem we see today (again my opinion) is “pride” in the form of – “I disagree with the Bible (i.e. word of God) on …” and I am going to ignore, change, “revise” this to make it more appealing or interpret God’s teachings in light of human knowledge/wisdom etc. (see 2 Timothy:1-4). It also displays a lack of respect for (or fear of) God (e.g. see Proverbs2:5, Psalm 55:19, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Revelation 14:6-7). This returns us to where Job was – demanding God come down and explain what he did wrong because (like Job) we want to treat God as our peer or equal. Humility means not seeing ourselves as “better” than other people, but also not seeing ourselves as “superior” or wiser (or even the equal of) God.