Six Ways Pride Keeps Us From God

Six Ways Pride Keeps Us From God


Pride is a dangerous emotion and can eventually lead us to sinful behavior. There are several areas in our life where we allow pride to take precedent over our life, and most of the time we don’t even know it – this is how pride works in a person. Pride is an excessive high opinion of one self and can lead to much destruction in our dealings with others and in our relationship with God.

1. Pride Keeps Us From Admitting Sin

Have you ever been confronted and rebuked about a sin that you committed? Sometimes because of our pride it’s hard to admit we sinned, but by admission we sometimes realize that we are sorry for that sin. It takes our heart to break down in humbleness before we can admit we sinned or were wrong in our actions. It’s good when a Christian brother or sister confronts us about our sin(s), and we should accept correction as a resource to our growth in the Lord.

Godly sorrow bring repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.
II Corinthians 7:10-11

2. Pride Blinds Us To Our Faults

Pride keeps us from noticing our own faults. Perhaps we get into an argument with our spouse and we think it is their entire fault because we don’t have any faults. But everyone has faults and weaknesses. How can we have good relationships if we think were better than others or if we think we do everything right? We like to show others their faults, or we like to talk behind people’s backs and judge them, but that’s not our job.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:1

3. Pride Is An Obstacle To Our Faith In Jesus

Pride keeps us believing in our house, money, status, career, etc. If we allow pride to rule our heart, we will feel the need to match a certain status quo in society – its called the “keep up with the Joneses” attitude. Pride has a way of hardening our hearts and then we reject Christ for our life. Pride is definitely an obstacle to our faith in Christ.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wondered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
I Timothy 6:7-10


4. Pride Makes Us Self-Righteous

Self-righteousness is dangerous. It leads to sin. It causes us to be hateful and bitter towards others and keeps us from wanting to learn anything from God for our life. Don’t let pride in your achievements cut you off from God. Your achievements are because of God.

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself” ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like the tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breasts and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 18: 11-14

5. Pride Is An Ingredient In Every Argument

Why do we fuss, fight, quarrel, and always have to be right? Pride does this to us. Pride keeps us protected where no one can come in and tell us what to do or how to live or how to behave – we already know all this stuff, right? The next time you are in an argument with a loved one, smile and walk away and see how good that feels. How about saying, I was wrong”, or “I need advice”.

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Proverbs 13:10

6. Pride Keeps Us From Asking Others For Help Or Advice

Have you ever known someone who is so proud they won’t ask for help or advice, even if they really need the help! Next time you’re in need of help, advice, or just want to get a second opinion on something, don’t let pride stand in the way of your asking one of your fellow Christians for help. They will be glad to offer any service they can if it will aid in your trust and confidence in the Lord.

Then Phillip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading”? Phillip asked. ‘How can I, he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me'? So he invited Phillip to come up and sit with him.