Pride

It’s easy to look back at our lives and take pride in the things we’ve done—projects, accomplishments, influence. I’ve been guilty of this. I’ve looked back at things I did while on active duty and thought, “I really made a difference.” And maybe I did. But it’s easy to start thinking I deserve something because of those things—recognition, favor, status—and that can turn into something dangerous.

If I were to ask the most handsome man in the auditorium to stand up, I bet some of you would hesitate. But let’s be honest: deep down, most of us think pretty highly of ourselves. We think we’re good-looking, smarter than most, harder-working than our peers. Pride sneaks in so easily.

Even men with great wisdom weren’t immune. Solomon is known for his wisdom, wealth, and building the temple—but his life also serves as a cautionary tale. Early in his reign, he was humble. When God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask whatever you want,” Solomon asked for wisdom to lead God’s people. God was pleased, and granted it.

But over time, Solomon’s blessings became temptations. He was swayed by wealth, lust, and foreign alliances. Despite his wisdom, he violated God's direct instructions. In 1 Kings 11, we see his spiritual decline. Solomon loved many foreign women and built places of worship for their gods. His heart turned away from God.

Even the wisest man who ever lived fell into the trap of pride.

Proverbs has so much to say about pride:

• “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” (13:10)

• “It is not glorious to seek one's own glory.” (25:27)

• “When pride comes, then comes disgrace.” (11:2)

• “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.” (27:2)

• “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord.” (16:5)

• “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (16:18)

Pride often looks like arrogance—but sometimes, it’s subtle. It looks like obsessing over what people think about you. I’ve felt it. When I moved to East Side and was asked to teach, I looked around and thought, “Who am I to teach, when guys like Mike and Marty are sitting here?” I was nervous—not because I doubted God’s Word, but because I worried what others would think about me.

That’s pride too.

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 4, says something radical: “It’s a small thing to be judged by others—or even by myself.” He says, “I’m not even the judge of myself; it’s the Lord who judges me.” That’s what matters.

When I look at myself, I usually see someone who deserves another chance, who can do better next time. But I’m not a reliable judge—not even of myself. I’m blinded by love of self, and that’s pride.

And pride doesn’t just affect how we see ourselves. It prevents us from confessing. It blocks us from being honest. We might eventually open up about things that have happened to us, but we rarely talk about the things we’ve done—especially the things we’re ashamed of. Pride stands in the way.

We need church to be the place where we can say, “I’ve messed up. I need help.” But pride makes us afraid that others won’t understand or forgive.

So we hide. We pretend.

But the gospel invites us into freedom—not pride.

Solomon’s story is powerful, not just because of what he built, but because of how his pride led to ruin. And yet it can serve as a wake-up call for us: to stay humble, to remain honest, to trust God's judgment above our own, and to lean on our brothers and sisters instead of competing with them.

Let’s lay down our pride and let God reshape us—so that we reflect Christ, not ourselves.