The Bible gives us clear warnings about pride. One of the most well-known verses is Proverbs 16:18:
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
This simple but powerful verse teaches us something important. When people become too proud, they often make mistakes that lead to their downfall. Let’s explore what this means and how we can avoid letting pride ruin our lives.
What Is Pride?
Pride is thinking too highly of yourself. It means believing you're better than others or that you don’t need help. Pride can show up in many ways:
- Refusing to listen to advice
- Bragging about what you have or do
- Looking down on other people
- Thinking you're always right
At first, pride might feel good. It can look like confidence. But when pride goes too far, it becomes dangerous.
📖 Romans 12:3 – “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.”
📖 Proverbs 8:13 – “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”
The Warning from Proverbs
Proverbs 16:18 gives a strong warning. When someone becomes proud, they are close to falling. Why? Because pride keeps people from seeing their faults. It blinds them. They think they’re safe, but they’re walking into danger.
Examples from real life:
| Situation | What Pride Looks Like | What Happens Next |
|---|---|---|
| A student who never studies | “I don’t need to prepare.” | Fails the test |
| A leader who ignores advice | “I know better than anyone.” | Makes bad decisions |
| A friend who never says sorry | “I’m never wrong.” | Loses relationships |
📖 1 Corinthians 10:12 – “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
Pride in the Bible
Pride is a common problem in the Bible. Over and over, we see proud people fall. But we also see how God lifts up the humble.
Some examples:
-
King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4): He bragged about his power. God humbled him by taking away his mind until he gave glory to God.
📖 Daniel 4:37 – “Those who walk in pride He is able to humble.” -
Pharaoh (Exodus): He refused to let God’s people go. His pride led to plagues and the loss of his army.
📖 Exodus 10:3 – “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?” -
Satan (Isaiah 14): He was cast out of heaven because he wanted to be above God.
📖 Isaiah 14:13–15 – “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens’… But you are brought down to the realm of the dead.”
In every story, pride led to destruction.
What’s the Opposite of Pride?
The opposite of pride is humility. Humility means being honest about your strengths and weaknesses. It means putting others before yourself and recognizing that you need help sometimes—even from God.
📖 James 4:6 – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
📖 Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Benefits of humility:
- Better relationships
- Easier to learn and grow
- More peace in your heart
- God gives grace to the humble
How to Stay Humble
If we want to avoid destruction, we must stay humble. Here are some ways to practice humility:
-
Pray daily – Ask God to help you see your pride.
📖 Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, God, and know my heart... See if there is any offensive way in me.” -
Say thank you – Gratitude reminds us we don’t do things alone.
📖 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances.” -
Admit mistakes – Everyone messes up sometimes.
📖 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.” -
Listen to others – You don’t have all the answers.
📖 Proverbs 19:20 – “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” -
Serve people – Helping others takes the focus off yourself.
📖 Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”
Final Thoughts
Pride is sneaky. It can feel like strength, but it often leads to weakness. The Bible doesn’t warn us about pride to scare us—it warns us to protect us. Pride goes before destruction, but humility leads to life.
📖 Proverbs 11:2 – “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
📖 Matthew 23:12 – “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Stay low. Stay kind. Stay honest. And let God lift you up in His time.
