Laying Aside the Weight of Pride: Overcoming a Sin That Hinders Our Spiritual Growth

Lay Aside the Weight of Pride

Do you ever feel weighed down by a burden that seems too heavy to bear? Maybe it’s a financial struggle, a troubled relationship, or a health issue. These are all legitimate concerns that can take a toll on our emotional and mental health. But there is another weight that we carry, often unknowingly, that can be just as heavy: the weight of pride.

As Christians, we are called to lay aside every weight that hinders us from running the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1). Pride is a weight that can weigh us down and hinder our spiritual growth. It can manifest itself in many ways, such as:

• Thinking too highly of ourselves


• Belittling others


• Being defensive when criticized


• Refusing to ask for help


• Refusing to admit fault

These are all symptoms of pride, and they can have a devastating effect on our relationships with others and with God. The Bible warns us about the dangers of pride:

The Sin of Pride

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

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16).

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

These verses make it clear that God hates pride and that it is a sin that can lead to our downfall. But why is pride such a serious sin?

The Root of Pride

The root of pride is a desire for glory and honor. We want to be recognized, respected, and admired. We want to be seen as successful, intelligent, and attractive. We want to be praised and applauded for our accomplishments.

This desire for glory and honor is not necessarily wrong in itself. In fact, God created us to glorify him and to enjoy him forever (1 Corinthians 10:31). But when this desire becomes our primary motivation, it leads to pride and arrogance.

Jesus warned his disciples about this danger:

Jesus and the Disciples

“You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45).

Jesus’ message was clear: greatness in the kingdom of God is not measured by power, prestige, or possessions. It is measured by service, sacrifice, and humility.

Jesus himself was the ultimate example of humility. Although he was the Son of God, he did not come to earth to be served, but to serve (Philippians 2:5-8). He washed his disciples’ feet, healed the sick, and fed the hungry. He gave his life as a ransom for many.

The Cure for Pride

The cure for pride is humility. Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It is recognizing that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God. It is acknowledging that we are sinners in need of grace.

Humility is also demonstrated in our relationships with others. We are called to love others as ourselves (Mark 12:31). This means treating others with respect, kindness, and compassion. It means being quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). It means bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). It means forgiving one another as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32).

Conclusion

Pride is a weight that can weigh us down and hinder our spiritual growth. It is a sin that can lead to our downfall. But there is hope. We can lay aside the weight of pride and run the race set before us with perseverance, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Let us pray for the grace to be humble, to love others as ourselves, and to glorify God in all that we do.