There was a king who stood on the roof of his palace looking over his vast kingdom. With great pride in his accomplishments, he verbally marvels at what he has built by his power and for his glory. Before the words finished coming out of his mouth, God causes him to lose his sanity. He is driven away from people and made to live like an animal for seven years. This continued until he humbled himself and acknowledged the God of heaven. Once he did, God restored his sanity and his kingdom.
This happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Stories like these highlight exactly how God feels about arrogance. One thing God hates is arrogance. Arrogance is once you exalt yourself greater than it’s best to. The old folks used to say it’s once you start smelling yourself. Maybe they were right because arrogance has an odor to it, but as you will notice, it just isn’t a really nice or attractive one.
What Does the Bible Say about Arrogance?
The Bible has strong words to say about arrogance. Here are just a few.
Before a downfall the guts is haughty,
but humility comes before honor. (Prov. 18:12)
To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech. (Prov. 8:13)
The Lord Almighty has a day in store
for all of the proud and lofty,
for all that’s exalted
(they usually shall be humbled) – (Isa. 2:12)
Why Is Arrogance Considered Sinful within the Bible?
The reason arrogance is sinful within the Bible is it causes you to have an inflated opinion of yourself and that typically accompanies devaluing others. Arrogance can be deceptive, however the important victim of the deception is you. That’s why Paul says in Galatians, “If anyone thinks they’re something after they should not, they deceive themselves” (Gal. 6:3).
Arrogance prevents you from seeing your need for God. In Luke 18, Jesus tells the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The significant contrast on this story is that many would view the Pharisee as righteous and the tax collector because the worst of sinners. However, the Pharisee prayed out of his arrogance and the tax collector from his humility. Here is how Jesus summed up this story:
“I inform you that this man, slightly than the opposite, went home justified before God. For all those that exalt themselves shall be humbled, and people who humble themselves shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
One reason many individuals reject Jesus is arrogance. The first step in coming to Jesus is to confess that you simply are incorrect (a sinner) and you would like his help (forgiveness). Without this, you won’t ever find redemption because your arrogance makes you confident in your personal self-righteousness. In this you behave just like the Pharisee not the tax collector.
The Greatest Example of Arrogance within the Bible and Its Consequence
The biggest example of arrogance within the Bible is Lucifer himself. He embodied the definition of what arrogance is. He fully believed he needs to be the one sitting on God’s throne and he sought to overthrow God. If there ever was an image of arrogance, that is it. Lucifer became so stuffed with himself that he thought he was greater than he was and that he needs to be the focus and the one everyone worships.
My daughter and I are big fans of skilled wrestling (don’t judge), and there’s one character who walks into the ring, holds one finger within the air, and tells the audience, “Acknowledge me.” When he does this, many individuals in the gang will delay one finger with him. While that is strictly entertainment, it harbors back to what arrogance is. You are the middle of your universe and everybody around you must acknowledge that.
In Lucifer’s story, as it can be for everybody else who walks in arrogance, it led to his humiliation. God threw him out of heaven together with one third of heaven’s angels. His end will come when God casts him within the lake of fireplace to be tormented without end. Let’s just say his story doesn’t end well.
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They shall be tormented day and night with no sign of ending” (Rev. 20:10).
Arrogance Causes God to Work against You
Everyone who lifts their head in arrogance, God will eventually humble because he hates the very smell of pride and arrogance. When pride and arrogance well up inside you, then God stops working for you.
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the standard’” (James 4:6).
This verse literally signifies that if you find yourself proud and smug, God literally sets himself up against you. He works against you to humble you because if pride persists, it can destroy your walk with him. God cannot work through the one who is smug because that’s repulsive to him. Remember, James was writing to Christians, so we should not exempt from succumbing to arrogance.
This affects people in all walks of life even those in public-facing ministry. They have humble beginnings after which their ministry grows. Before anyone knew who they were, it was concerning the ministry. As their fame and recognition grows it becomes about them. They find yourself with an exaggerated level of their importance. When they reach this place of arrogance, they’re primed for a fall because God is not any longer for them, but he has set himself against them.
How Is Arrogance Different from Confidence?
Confidence is once you consider you possibly can. You know you possibly can do something and execute it at a high level. Arrogance is once you consider nobody can do it higher than you because you’re at a level far above everybody else. Confidence recognizes that you simply are only one cog in an even bigger wheel. Arrogance says you’re the rationale the wheel turns and nothing happens without you.
Confidence is attractive and draws people in. Arrogance is repulsive and most of the people don’t wish to be near an smug person. Jesus had great confidence mixed with great humility. He knew who he was, yet he walked humbly. Is it hard to see why people were drawn to him?
How Can Christians Guard against Arrogance?
Play the Comparison Game within the Right Direction
One reason for peoples’ arrogance is we compare ourselves to others. This is a comparison within the incorrect direction. If you desire to be ok with yourself, you possibly can at all times find someone it’s possible you’ll be in a greater position than. However, if you desire to remain humble, then you will need to raise your comparison standard. Don’t compare yourself to others, compare yourself to the usual of Christ. When he becomes the measuring stick, it keeps you humble since you recognize how short you fall.
Recognize Who Your Source Is
Some people consider they’re the source of every part they’ve. When you do that, you change into like Nebuchadnezzar. Stay on this place too long and God will eventually humble you. Instead, recognize that every part you’ve gotten comes from the Lord. Jesus said it best. Apart from me, you possibly can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). Remembering this keeps you humble. Forgetting it, opens the door for arrogance to creep in.
Be Humble
You matter and your life is vital, but no more vital than the person next to you. While all of us have different levels of responsibility, all of us have equal value. Keeping this front and center will assist you to not to think about yourself more highly than it’s best to.
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the pinnacle cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that appear to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Cor. 12:21-22).
What Are the Blessings of Choosing Humility over Arrogance?
When you select humility, James says God gives you more grace. Before you bypass that statement, recognize grace is crucial for every part you do on this Christian journey. The easy key to walking in additional of God’s grace is humility.
You have a alternative. You can live with the mindset of Lucifer, or you possibly can live with the mindset of Christ. Lucifer lifted himself up and God brought him low. Jesus humbled himself and God exalted him. This principle stays. The only query you will need to ask yourself is what side of it do you desire to fall on? I do know that is the higher side to land on.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he’ll lift you up” (Jas. 4:10).
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Yevhenii Strebkov
