“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16, NKJV)
This devotion is in continuation to the series on the three main categories of sin. We have covered Lust of the flesh and the Lust of the eyes. This post is about the Pride of Life.
What is the Pride of Life?
The pride of life is the craving to be admired, applauded, or exalted. It’s the desire to elevate ourselves, to boast in our achievements, possessions, or status as though they were the measure of our worth. Unlike gratitude, which points upward to God, pride turns inward and says: “Look at me.”
I know this very well because this used to be me. I was prideful and arrogant. I somehow had this mindset that I could do anything anybody else was doing well and that I could do it better. Be it at my workplace or hobbies or sports. I would watch movies and come back thinking to myself that I could also act, dance, and sing just as well or better. I was so prideful that it was hard for me to celebrate another person’s success and recognition. It clearly affected my relationship with my beloved wife too.
I carried this attitude on to my new found faith in Christ. And my heavenly Father began to discipline me with love and compassion. His method of discipline was crystal clear. He allowed failures after failures in my life until I became broken and humble enough to recognize that I was nothing without Christ. Everything I put my hand to, failed. In places where I thought my talents would be easily recognized, I was ignored and others went on ahead of me. It took a few years for this ugly root of pride to be uprooted in me before I began to finally see that other people were far better than me in several issues of life.
Today, I am a new man. I am absolutely nothing without Christ and I firmly believe everyone else better than myself. I see and interact with everyone irrespective of caste, color, race, or economic status with equal love and respect. I just want to be full of Christ and nothing else.
The danger of pride is subtle. Pride doesn’t always shout loudly; sometimes it hides beneath our successes, our titles, our homes, or even our ministry work. Left unchecked, it shifts our focus from glorifying God to glorifying ourselves. This is why I feel uncomfortable when people insist that they be called “Pastor” or “Reverend” or “Bishop”. These are mere titles and evidence of pride. After all the corporate world doesn’t address their staff as Accountant, Receptionist, Sales Manager, or Marketing Executive; do they? These are titles which simply describe their jobs. So also, God has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for equipping the saints for the work of ministry.
The Inflated Balloon
Think of pride like a balloon filled with too much air. It looks impressive, larger than life — but it only takes one prick for it to burst. Pride puffs us up, but it makes us fragile. Humility, on the other hand, is like a solid rock — steady, grounded, and unshaken.
The Tower of Babel
In Genesis 11, the people came together and said:
“Let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves.”
It wasn’t about honoring God — it was about their own glory. Pride became their downfall.
Contrast that with Jesus, who had every right to exalt Himself, but instead chose humility:
“He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:7, NIV)
How to Overcome the Pride of Life
- Remember your Source – Everything you are and have comes from God (James 1:17). This keeps us humble.
- Practice gratitude – Pride says “I did this.” Gratitude says “God gave me this.”
- Serve others – Pride seeks to be served; humility chooses to serve. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet as an example for us.
- Fix your eyes on eternity – Titles, possessions, and applause fade. What lasts forever are the treasures stored in heaven (Matthew 6:20).
David was once a humble shepherd, fully dependent on God. But later, when he became king, pride led him to take a census of his army — as if his strength depended on numbers rather than God’s power (2 Samuel 24). That pride brought judgment.
On the other hand, Paul, despite his great learning and authority, called himself “the chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) and constantly boasted only in the cross of Christ. His humility magnified Christ rather than himself.
The pride of life is a trap that promises importance but leaves us empty. True greatness comes through humility, where Christ is exalted and we find joy in lowering ourselves before Him.
Jesus Himself said:
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12, ESV)
Reflection Questions
- In what areas of your life do you find yourself seeking recognition, status, or approval from others?
- How can you remind yourself daily that everything you have comes from God?
- What’s one practical way you can humble yourself and serve someone this week?