The battle against pride

The heart must be trained again and again to give glory to God rather than to self.

Every man must fight against the natural tendency of the heart to elevate himself and dishonor God. Since the fall, humanity has been drawn toward self-exaltation while pushing God to the margins, leading to a pervasive struggle to prioritize divine glory over personal ambition. Scripture says that although men knew God through what He has revealed, “they did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (Romans 1:21). Instead, the human heart turns inward, seeking its glory.

This attitude is the root of pride. Man desires the place that belongs to God alone. The first temptation in the garden appealed to that very desire. “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). From that moment onward the struggle has remained the same. The heart wants to exalt itself while lowering the authority of the One who made it.

But the Christian life moves in the opposite direction. God calls us to humble ourselves and acknowledge His rightful place. “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10). True wisdom begins when a man stops magnifying himself and starts honoring God as He deserves.

So, the battle against pride is constant. The heart must be trained again and again to give glory to God rather than to self. For in the end, everything exists for Him and through Him and to Him (Romans 11:36).

Article by Jeremiah Knight

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