Success And Pride

We take pride in practically anything - our looks, possessions, intelligence, job,
sophistication, family connections, success, even our religion. None of these things
are wrong in themselves. When the Bible talks about pride and arrogance, it is talking
about making idols - Gods - of these things. It is more talking about thinking of
ourselves so highly that God has no place in our life.

"No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock
like our God. "Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your
mouth, For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are
weighed. 1 Samuel 2:2-3 (NKJV)

Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person. Psalms 31:23 (NKJV)

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It
will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
Proverbs 3:7-8 (NKJV)

Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join
forces, none will go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5 (NKJV)

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to
be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 16:18-19 (NKJV)

A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin. Proverbs 21:4 (NKJV)

The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,
And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall
come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up--And it shall be brought
low-- Isaiah 2:11-12 (NKJV)

"I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of
the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. Isaiah 13:11 (NKJV)

"Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)

At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that
You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.
Matthew 11:25 (NKJV)

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant
of all." Mark 9:35 (NKJV)

For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of
the world. 1 John 2:16 (NKJV)

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two
men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax
collector. 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so
much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' "I tell you, this man
went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14 (NKJV)

See also Hypocrisy, Money, Success