Pride, in this article, refers to a sinful, arrogant, haughty, insolent, self-reliant attitude or spirit that causes a person to have an inflated or puffed up view of themselves (Proverbs 21:4). This is different from "taking pride" in a job well done. Those who are proud think of themselves as better than others and look down on others with contempt and derision. The proud do not have a correct or sober estimation of themselves, their abilities, or their positions (Romans 12:3). They see themselves as better than others and believe themselves to be pre-eminent. Pride has devastating effects. Proverbs 16:18 warns us that “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Believers are not immune to the temptation of pride, and we must remain humble by allowing God’s Word and Spirit to convict us in areas where we become self-reliant and haughty. Whereas pride is focused inward on loving and serving oneself, God calls us to be humble, loving God and loving others.
The result of pride is contention, shame, death, and destruction. We can see all of these disastrous consequences in both Satan and mankind. Even though God has allowed Satan to roam the world for now, his end is certain (Matthew 25:41). Likewise, the result of mankind's pride was enmity between man and God, shame, guilt, and death (Genesis 3:8; Romans 5:12; 6:23; Colossians 1:21). Pride has disastrous consequences, but we need not suffer them. Jesus came to offer salvation and rescue (John 3:16–18)! We are saved by God’s grace when we put our faith in Him and therefore are no longer at enmity with God; rather than eternal death, we are destined to eternal life (Ephesians 2:1–10).
Believers do still struggle with sin and suffer its earthly consequences (James 1:12–15). But we also have the indwelling Holy Spirit who is transforming us into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:28–29; Philippians 1:6). We need never fear that God will abandon us when we sin; He is faithful to cleanse and restore (1 John 1:8—2:6; Jude 1:24–25). We do need to intentionally seek to put our sin to death and to instead live as God would have us live (Colossians 3:1–17). Thus we are called to willingly choose humility over pride (Philippians 2:1–11; James 4:6–10; 1 Peter 5:6). We do so knowing that a proper perspective of self—humility—is not a matter of sheer willpower, but of God’s work of sanctification in us (1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 3:2–3; Philippians 2:12–13). We must be reliant and dependent on God for our strength if we are to make any progress at all in the Christian life (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). As we grow in knowledge and good deeds, we may be tempted to glory in ourselves. This continues to be the trap Satan sets for us. Therefore, we must be constantly alert and on guard against the temptation to pride, self-reliance, and self-righteousness (1 Peter 5:8; Romans 12:16). It is not by our own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us that we are able to imitate Christ's humility and thereby love and serve God, our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even our enemies (Matthew 5:44; 22:37–39; John 13:34–35; 1 Corinthians 13:1–7; Galatians 6:10). Whereas pride is focused inward on loving and serving oneself, Spirit-filled love is directed outward toward loving and serving God and others.