Pride: The Root of All Sin

We Begin With Pride

"The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind." -C. S. Lewis

What is Pride?

The heart of pride is the desire to lift up and exalt ourselves beyond our place as God’s Creatures.

“Pride can be summarized as an attitude of self-sufficiency, self-importance, and self-exaltation in relation to God. Toward others, it is an attitude of contempt and indifference.” Thomas Tarrants

“Ultimately, pride is a worship issue. We cannot think about ourselves less unless we think about something else more.” Jason Meyer

The Fruits of Pride

• Self-Promotion
• Self-Pity
• Self-Righteousnes

A Journey From Pride To Humility

1. The Height of Pride: Nebuchadnezzar’s Arrogance

The Nature of Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride:

• Self-Glorification: He took full credit for his achievements and ignored God’s sovereignty.
• Disregard for God: Nebuchadnezzar had previously witnessed God’s power (Daniel 3), but his pride made him forget who truly rules over all.

The Warning of Pride: Pride elevates self above God, leading us to believe we alone control our destiny.

2. The Consequences of Pride: Nebuchadnezzar’s Humbling 

The Result of His Pride:

• Loss of power and Dignity: His pride led to a complete reversal of his status and sanity.
• Separation from Community: Pride often isolates us—either through broken relationships or by driving us away from God’s intended purpose.

God’s Discipline in Love: God’s judgment wasn’t just punitive; it was corrective. God humbled Nebuchadnezzar to bring him to a place of repentance and recognition of the true King.

3. The Turning Point: Nebuchadnezzar’s Repentance and Restoration. 

• Acknowledgment of God’s Sovereignty 
  “Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.” C.S. Lewis
• The Restoration of Humility Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity, honor, and kingdom were restored
  when he humbled himself before God.
  His praise and worship of God showed a transformed heart that no longer glorified self but exalted God.
• God’s Grace in Humility: When we turn to God in humility, He is faithful to restore us and lift us up in due time.
  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” (1 Peter 5:6, ESV)
  “There are two things that are suited to humble the souls of men, and they are, first, a due consideration of God, and then of themselves—of God, in his greatness, glory, holiness, power, majesty, and authority; of ourselves, in our mean, abject, and sinful condition.” John Owen

Key Lessons from Daniel 4

• God Resists the Proud but Gives Grace to the Humble: James 4:6 echoes this theme. Pride sets us in opposition to God, but humility aligns us with His will.
• The Sovereignty of God: No matter our achievements or status, God is in control. We must always acknowledge His hand in our lives, especially our successes.
• The Beauty of Repentance: No matter how far pride may lead us astray, there is always an opportunity to repent and return to God.

“Nebuchadnezzar was confident in the position and power he had been given, but the old pride had been broken. You can see this in the fact that what he once took credit for building, he now praised God for establishing. Nebuchadnezzar did not minimize or deny the power and splendor of his reign, but he did not say as he once would have said, “This is from me, about me, and for me.” You see, pride takes credit for what it could not achieve on its own, while confidence stands strong because it recognizes the power and presence of One greater. Only divine grace can lead you from one to the other.” Paul Tripp

Closing Thought: “True greatness is found not in exalting ourselves but in humbling ourselves before the One who reigns over all.”

Making It Personal:

• Have you acknowledged your spiritual poverty before a Holy God? Have you cried out to Him, turning from your self-rule and self-righteousness and turning to Jesus Christ alone as your Savior and Lord?
• What might be evidence of pride in your life? Ask God to reveal to you the presence of pride and remind you of the destructiveness of pride.
• What will it look like for you to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand?
• How can you live with “humble confidence”? What practices/habits or people can help you live this out in your day-to-day life?
• Who can I share these truths with?

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