Pride is a deceptive sin that can easily creep up on us, especially when we are doing what is right. Job, one of the oldest books in the Bible, illustrates this perfectly. Throughout his conversations with his friends, Job walks a fine line between recounting past accomplishments, which is not wrong, and boasting about them, which is.
Job 29:7-25 recounts Job’s past accomplishments, including how he helped the poor, stood up for justice, and received praise from his peers. While these accomplishments were admirable, Job came dangerously close to pride – and pride leads us away from God. Pride separates us from God by making us think we’re better than we really are, which can lead to other kinds of sin.
The good news is that avoiding pride is possible. One way to do this is by focusing on God’s blessings to us rather than our own accomplishments. When we review past blessings, we are reminded of God’s goodness even in times of suffering. By focusing on what God has done for us, we can avoid the trap of self-importance and pride.
Another way to avoid pride is through humility. Humility means recognizing that we are not better than anyone else and that everything we have comes from God. When we see ourselves as equal to others, we can treat them with respect and love, just as Jesus did. Humility is not weakness; it is strength in acknowledging our dependence on God.
Additionally, it helps to have an accountability partner who can keep us from falling into pride. This person should be someone we trust, who also seeks to honor God, and who is not afraid to call us out when we start to think too highly of ourselves. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” By having someone hold us accountable, we can stay focused on God and avoid the trap of pride.
Lastly, it’s important to remember that everything we do should be for God’s glory and not our own. If we keep this perspective in mind, we will be less likely to fall into pride. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” When we work for God’s glory, our accomplishments are no longer about us, but about Him.
Pride is a deceptive sin that can lead us away from God. We must be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking we are better than we really are. By focusing on God’s blessings, practicing humility, having an accountability partner, and working for God’s glory, we can avoid pride and stay focused on Him. Job provides a perfect example of how even the most devout believer can walk a fine line with pride, but by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and acknowledging our dependence on Him, we can overcome this sin and remain faithful to God.
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