Pride is a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
How to overcome pride?
Confess your pride to God specifically and ask for His forgiveness. Equally important, request Him to cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Don’t ask God to humble you—the scripture says to humble yourself (1 Peter 5:6).
According to Luke 14:7-11 (Don’t Make Yourself Important), “When someone invites you to a wedding, don’t sit in the most important seat. They may have invited someone more important than you. And if you are sitting in the most important seat, they will come to you and say, ‘Give this man your seat!’ Then you will have to move down to the last place and be embarrassed.” So when someone invites you, go sit in the seat that is not important. Then they will come to you and say, ‘Friend, move up here to this better place!’ What an honor this will be for you in front of all the other guests. Everyone who makes themselves important will be made humble. But everyone who makes themselves humble will be made important.”
Luke 18:9-14 (Being Right with God) explains that some people thought they were perfect and looked down on everyone else. Jesus used this story to teach them: “One time there was a Pharisee* and a tax collector.* One day, they both went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood alone, away from the tax collector. When the Pharisee prayed, he said, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not as bad as other people. I am not like men who steal, cheat, or commit adultery.* I thank you that I am better than this tax collector. I fast* twice a week, and I give a tenth of everything I get! The tax collector also stood alone. But when he prayed, he would not even look up to heaven. He felt very humble before God. He said, ‘O God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner!’ I tell you, when this man finished his prayer and went home, he was right with God. But the Pharisee, who felt he was better than others, was not right with God. People who make themselves important will be made humble. But those who make themselves humble will be made important.”
Luke 22:24-27 (Be Like a Servant), we study the apostles, who began to argue about which one of them was the most important. But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the world rule over their people, and those who have authority over others want to be called ‘the great providers for the people.’ But you must not be like that. The one with the most authority among you should act as if he were the least important. The one who leads should be like one who serves. Who is more important: the one serving or the one sitting at the table being served? Everyone thinks it’s the one being served, right? But I have been with you as the one who serves.
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:6-7)
