Note that right smack in the middle of the word pride is the letter “I”. The word pride can have a good connotation. We would probably all agree that it is not wrong for parents to be proud of their children or for a person to take pride in their work. However, when the Bible talks about pride, it’s meaning is quite different and has very negative connotations. It means to have an excessively high opinion of one’s own worth or importance. It suggests arrogant or overbearing conduct and it is the independent spirit that says, ‘I have no need of God.’ It is, therefore, the root of all sin. How should we respond to the temptation and dangers of pride? 


God wants us to walk in humility and kindness, not in arrogance and pride. Pride comes before a fall as noted by Solomon in Proverbs 16:18, ‘Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.’ Pride is a particular temptation for anyone in a position of power whether that power comes from status, success, fame or wealth.
The history of the kings of Israel and Judah demonstrates that it is difficult to become powerful and resist the temptation of pride. During this period the kings of Judah were doing rather better than the kings of Israel. King after king in Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord. In 2 Kings 15 we read the account of Azaria (also known as Uzziah), king of Judah, who reigned for 52 years. In v.v.3-4 we read, ‘And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still on the high places.’ Not removing the high places was the beginning of Uzziah’s undoing so the Lord afflicted him with leprosy until the day of his death. Why did his life end in such a mess?


We find the answer in the 26th chapter of 2 Chronicles. God helped Uzziah as he fought the Philistines and other enemies. His name spread far abroad as his success and power increased. As long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. However, in v.16 we read, ‘But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: For he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.’ The burning of incense to the Lord was strictly reserved only to the priests the sons of Aaron. His action was, therefore, considered to be a serious trespass resulting in his immediate removal from the sanctuary by Azariah and 80 other priests.


If God has blessed us with success, wealth or power, there is almost always the temptation to become proud. We need to be thankful for all the warnings and encouragement in the Bible to not yield to this temptation and to be utterly dependent on God. We can keep from succumbing if our eyes are continually fixed only on Jesus who was all-powerful and yet humbled himself in taking the nature of a servant.