The Chapel - Rediscovering God Changes Everything.

Good question! From a biblical perspective, the kind of pride that is sinful is that which elevates me over God. Listen to Proverbs 3:5-8:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

The proverb admonishes us to honor and acknowledge God as God, to trust in him and his ways, to recognize him as the ultimate authority on good and evil, and to obey him accordingly. This is the essence of biblical humility. There is nothing wrong with feeling good about having accomplished a task with excellence, or being proud of your son or daughter for getting straight A’s, or being patriotic as long as we are acknowledging God and thanking him for the gifts that have made this sense of pride valid.

Remember what God the Father said at Jesus’ baptism? “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). It appears that the Father was very proud of his Son! When Peter correctly answered Jesus’ question regarding who the disciples thought Jesus was, Jesus exclaimed, “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah!” (Matthew 16:16-18), and proceeded to affirm that he would build his church upon this testimony. Jesus was very proud of Peter in that moment. And Paul told Timothy that “if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1). So it appears that personal aspiration for the right reasons is noble and evidence of a desire worthy of fulfillment.

Later in the same epistle, Paul argues that rich people should not be haughty, that is, arrogant or conceited about their wealth. They should not place their hopes in their accomplishments, but should instead be generous and willing to share (6:17-19). It would seem then that it is perfectly appropriate to be pleased with my personal accomplishments as long as I am not using them to glorify myself, but instead to glorify God by placing the fruit of my efforts at his disposal. The same would apply to achieving a position of leadership.

God has given us gifts and talents, and expects us to develop them and to apply them with excellence for his glory and for the good of his kingdom in all environments, secular or sacred. We are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, that is, with everything we have and with all the excellence we can muster, whether we are a pastor, a student, an NFL quarterback, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. When we or one of our loved ones has done so, we have every reason to experience satisfaction in personal accomplishment and joy in God being glorified.

Blessings,

Arnie Gentile