The Deadly Danger of Pride

Some of the sweetest promises are given to those who are humble while the most severe threats are addressed to the proud. This might lead us to believe that the quintessential quality of a Christian is humility and the essence of the anti-God, antichrist spirit of the age is pride. We would be correct.

Charles Spurgeon said,

Pride was man’s first sin, and it will be his last. In the first sin that man ever committed, there was certainly a large mixture of pride, for he imagined that he knew better than his Maker… there was certainly pride in the sin of Satan and pride in the sin of Adam. This is the torch which kindled hell and set the world on fire.

So it should come as no surprise when Peter hits us with the statement, “God is opposed to the proud…” Could there be anything worse than to be opposed by an omnipotent God? This does not mean that God passively dislikes pride. No, this word “opposes” means “to range in battle against.” The word oppose is very similar to what we are told to do in regards to the devil in 5:9: “resist the devil…” except our resistance is one of defensive; withstanding his assault. God’s opposition to the proud is him mounting an offensive against proud people.

So to say pride is a danger to us is the understatement of the century. It is like saying ISIS is a danger to Christians still living in Syria. It is like saying a wolf is a danger a lone sheep. It is like saying a pride of lions is a danger to a wildebeest. The bible is clear: pride is a grim danger.

Like a bloodhound, we can sniff out pride in the loud boaster a mile away. We are probably not in danger of that form of pride. But what Peter identifies as pride almost appears on the outside as the opposite of pride. And it is a great danger. What is it? Anxiety. It keeps us from humbling ourselves under and keeps us from walking in humility toward others.

Here's the big idea from this text: Give all your cares to God by trusting in his care of you so you are free to care for others.

God’s opposition to the proud, but grace and favor to the humble is the central idea of the text. And because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, we are required to respond in two ways: one in horizontal humility and two in vertical humility. So let’s look at horizontal humility, then vertical humility, then see how they fit together.

Horizontal Humility

Let’s look at the connection with horizontal humility first. Check this out. “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, FOR God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Or we could turn it around and say, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble… therefore clothe yourselves with humility…”

Notice first, Peter uses the language of putting on clothes. Why? I think he does this for two reasons. First, to communicate intentionality. When you get up on Sunday, you intentionally put on different clothes than you would (probably) if you were working in the garden or mowing the yard. Intentionally put on, like a garment, humility. But also, Peter uses the language of clothing to communicate the atmosphere of humility for Christians toward each other. It is something you wear. So clothe yourselves with humility.

But what is humility? Is it more or less letting people walk all over you? Is it groveling on the ground calling yourself a worthless worm? No, in fact, Jesus calls humility strength and greatness in Mark 10:35-44. James and John requested they have the seats at Christ’s right and left hand in his kingdom. Jesus sat them down and said this, “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 give his life as a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:4-11 is the most important text on humility in the bible.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...

So what is horizontal humility? Here’s what it is: Considering others more important, you consciously put yourself in a lowly, servant role for their good.

Next, let’s look at vertical humility.

Vertical Humility

Let’s look again at the end of verse 5 and then verses 6-7:

God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God.

Peter doesn’t leave us guessing how we do this. He tells us specifically. In fact verse 7 is the subordinate clause showing us how we humble ourselves under God:

[By] Casting all your anxieties upon him because he cares for you.

We humble ourselves under God by hurling our burdens, cares, worries, and anxieties upon him. Which anxieties? All of them. Don’t lug any of them around. What are these anxieties Peter has in mind? I imagine Peter recalling the words of Jesus here. Such as, Matthew 6 when Jesus says, “Don’t be anxious about your life, what you will eat, drink, and wear. Look at the birds and flowers. Can you even add a single hour to your life by worrying?”

Or the parable of the sowers, when Jesus talked about the seed sown among the thorns:

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful. ~ Matthew 13:22

Or how about when Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and points to the end of the age in Luke 21, he says,

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon your suddenly like a trap. ~ Luke 21:34

What are these anxieties? Pressures. Feel any pressure? Are there situations (or much of life) that feels like you are about 15 under water with all the pressure? Anxieties are the cares and worries that keep you up at night. Your mind races to them when you wake up or when you are lying in bed. They occupy your mind when you aren’t busy. These cares are not necessarily sinful in themselves, but when you are consumed by and obsess over, they become idolatrous.

So what is the connection between anxiety and pride? Remember Peter is saying, humble yourselves by casting your anxieties on God. Well, it has to do with God caring for us – or not. Anxiety at its root is unbelief; unbelief that God will take care of you. And unfortunately this is the form of pride Christians find acceptable. Pride won’t cast fears upon God, faith will. This is God’s diagnosis and he gives us a prescription as well.

Pride says, “I don’t know if God can care for me. So I must care for myself.” This questions the ability of God. But remember, Peter says, “humble under the mighty hand of God.” Is God able? Of course! Verse 5:11 says God has all dominion forever and ever! He is able to care for you.

Pride says, “I don’t know if will care for me. So I must care for myself.” This questions the faithfulness of God. But the promise is he does in fact care for you. Not that he may. “Cast your anxieties on him BECAUSE he cares for you.” This word cares is an active verb in the present form. In other words, he cares and always cares for his children! JI Packer in Knowing God says,

He knows me as a friend, one who loves me; and there is not a moment when his eye is off me, or his attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when his care falters.

Pride says, “I don’t know if God will care for me as I ought to be cared for, so I will care for myself.” This questions the wisdom of God. This is pride because it assumes we know what is best for us. And we don’t’! Which is why we are told the result of casting our anxieties on God: “so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” When is the proper time? Our wise, loving, able, faithful Father knows.

All of a sudden we see how this comes together. We humble ourselves by giving our cares to God, trusting God’s promise to care for us; then we are free to humbly care for others.

It seems like the crux of the matter is, Does he care for his people? Not passively concerned, but actively caring. YES, a thousand times yes!

He Cares For You

For those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Christ alone, God wants to give you massive assurance of his love and grace and care now and forever. And it is all three Persons of the Trinity working in harmony to give you this!

He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. In love the Father predestined us to adoption as sons (Ephesians 1:4-5).

When the fullness of time had come, the Father sent the Son to be born under the law to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5).

God has sent his Spirit into our hearts crying “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:6-7).

He works all things for your good (Romans 8:28).

He will provide for all your needs (Philippians 4:19).

He will “keep you from stumbling and make you stand before the presence of his glory with great joy.” (Jude 24).

What are you anxious about? Unload it now and give it to the one who cares for you! And by giving your cares to God, trusting his massive, mighty, and perfect care for you, you are free to care for others (clothe yourself with humility).

Don’t wait! You can leave with a load lifted of your shoulders and live moment by moment casting your fears on Him who daily bears our burdens. Let’s take the advice of Charles Spurgeon:

[God] has never refused to bear your burdens, he has never fainted under their weight. Come then soul! Have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God.