Choosing Humility and Seeking God’s Glory for True Honor
Introduction
Pride is a powerful force that can shape the destiny of leaders and those they influence. In the Bible, we find repeated warnings against pride, especially among those given the responsibility to lead others. For Christian leaders and believers, understanding the difference between sinful and healthy pride is essential. The Scriptures call leaders to reject the path of self-exaltation and instead embrace humility, seeking God’s glory as the true path to honor.
Sinful Pride vs. Healthy Pride
It is important to distinguish between sinful pride and a healthy sense of accomplishment. Sinful pride is an inflated sense of self-importance that leads to arrogance, self-reliance, and disregard for God and others. Proverbs 8:13 declares, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Here, pride is closely linked with evil and is something God Himself opposes.
On the other hand, the Bible acknowledges a form of healthy pride—taking satisfaction in a job well done, or in the progress of others. Galatians 6:4 says, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” Similarly, Paul expresses confidence in the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 7:4, showing that it is appropriate to rejoice in others’ faithfulness and growth. The difference lies in where we place our confidence and whether we are giving glory to God or seeking it for ourselves.
Psalm 10:4 and the Nature of Pride
Psalm 10:4 offers a sobering diagnosis of pride: “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Different translations emphasize that pride crowds God out of our hearts. Prideful leaders trust their own wisdom and strength, leaving no space for God’s guidance. The spiritual consequence is tragic—when we are full of ourselves, we become empty of God. Pride blinds us to our need for divine help and leads us away from the very source of wisdom and strength.
Consequences of Prideful Leadership
The Bible is clear: pride leads to destruction. Proverbs 16:18-19 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” Leaders who allow pride to take root set themselves and their followers on a path toward downfall and disgrace.
The story of Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12-15 serves as a stark warning. His desire to exalt himself above God led to his downfall. In 2 Corinthians 10:18, Paul reminds us, “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” Similarly, 1 Corinthians 4:7 asks, “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” Prideful leadership not only invites God’s opposition, but also fosters dysfunctional cultures, broken relationships, and a lack of spiritual power.
Biblical Alternatives to Pride: Humility and Servant Leadership
The biblical alternative to pride is humility. James 4:6 teaches, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less—putting God and others first. Jesus modeled this perfectly, telling His disciples that “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). The humble leader seeks God’s will above personal ambition and serves others sacrificially.
True honor comes not from self-promotion, but from seeking God’s glory. Jeremiah 9:23-24 declares, “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord.” Leaders are called to boast in the Lord, celebrating His work and pointing others to Him rather than themselves.
Conclusion: Embrace Humility, Seek God’s Will, and Model Servant Leadership
The biblical warning against pride in leadership is clear and urgent. Sinful pride leads to destruction and separation from God, while humility opens the door to His favor and true honor. As Christian leaders and believers, let us examine our hearts, reject the temptation to seek our own glory, and instead choose the path of humility. Let us serve others, seek God’s will above our own, and point all honor back to Him. In doing so, we will find that the way up is down—the path to true greatness is paved with humility and surrender to God’s glory.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 