Introduction

There’s one sin I’ve wrestled with more than any other—not because it’s always obvious, but because it’s always lurking beneath the surface. It disguises itself as strength, confidence, and even righteousness. It’s the sin that turns victories into vanity, faith into arrogance, and leadership into domination.

I’m talking about pride.

In Episode 102 of the 3 Pillars Podcast, I unpacked what C.S. Lewis called “The Great Sin.” And let me tell you—it was one of the most personal and challenging topics I’ve ever covered. Not just because pride is dangerous, but because I’ve seen how deeply it infects even the best intentions. In this post, I want to dive deeper—sharing my own reflections, calling out the blind spots, and walking with you toward something better: humility.

Why Pride Is Called “The Great Sin”

C.S. Lewis didn’t call pride “The Great Sin” lightly. In Mere Christianity, he writes:

“The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison.”

Why? Because pride is the root of all other sin. It puts the self at the center, crowding out God, truth, and others. It’s the spiritual cancer that turns love into control, service into performance, and faith into superiority.

Pride whispers, “You deserve more,” “You know better,” and “You don’t need help.” It’s not just bad behavior—it’s rebellion at the deepest level.

The Invisible Poison

The dangerous thing about pride is that it’s invisible—at least to ourselves. We can spot it in others from a mile away, but in the mirror? Not so much.

I’ve had moments where I thought I was pursuing excellence, but I was really chasing applause. Times I believed I was leading out of conviction, when in reality, I just didn’t want to be questioned. That’s how pride works. It wears the costume of virtue—success, strength, intelligence—but it poisons everything from the inside.

There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. One lifts others up. The other keeps others down so you can stand taller.

Pride as Opposition to God

James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Let that sink in: God actively resists the proud.

Pride puts us in direct opposition to God because it dethrones Him. It says, “I’ve got this. I don’t need help. I don’t need grace.” It kills prayer, because why pray if you think you’re in control? It kills worship, because you’re too focused on yourself. It kills surrender, because surrender requires trust—and pride only trusts itself.

The more I tried to control outcomes, micromanage my life, and perform for God, the more exhausted and empty I became. Pride builds towers. God builds altars. And He only meets us at one of those.

Pride in Comparison

Lewis also said, “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.” That hit me hard. Because pride feeds off comparison.

It’s not enough to be successful—you have to be more successful than someone else. Not just wise—wiser. Not just holy—holier. It’s a zero-sum game where someone always has to lose so you can win.

But that mindset is a prison. It steals joy, kills gratitude, and fosters envy. I’ve caught myself measuring my worth by likes, influence, or income. And every time, it left me more anxious, more insecure, and more disconnected.

Pride and Isolation

The loneliest people I’ve ever met are the proudest. Because pride isolates.

When you believe you’re always right, no one can correct you. When you’re always performing, no one really knows you. When you’re addicted to being admired, you stop letting yourself be loved.

I’ve had to learn the hard way that the cost of pride isn’t just personal—it’s relational. Real intimacy—whether with God, friends, or a spouse—requires humility. It requires saying, “I don’t know,” “I need help,” and “I’m sorry.”

Humility as the Antidote

So what’s the antidote? Humility.

Not weakness. Not insecurity. True humility. Which isn’t thinking less of yourself—it’s thinking of yourself less.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. Philippians 2:5–8 says He “made Himself nothing… and humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.” The King of Kings washed feet, embraced lepers, and died for enemies. That’s humility. And that’s strength.

The more I choose humility, the more peace I find. No need to prove anything. No need to be the best. Just walking in grace.

Recognizing Pride in Yourself

How do you know if pride is running your life?

Here are some red flags I’ve had to wrestle with:

Getting defensive when corrected Always needing to have the last word Feeling threatened by others’ success Struggling to celebrate others Wanting recognition for every good deed Thinking “I deserve more”

A good gut-check is to ask: “Who gets the credit when I succeed?” If the answer isn’t God, you might be exalting the wrong person.

Practical Strategies to Overcome Pride

Overcoming pride isn’t about a one-time decision. It’s daily warfare. But here are some tools that have helped me:

Gratitude: Thank God and others daily. It shifts focus from entitlement to appreciation. Service: Do things no one sees. Clean the bathroom. Serve a stranger. It purifies your motives. Accountability: Invite people to speak into your blind spots. Pride hates correction—but humility welcomes it. Prayer: Ask God to humble you before He has to. A teachable spirit invites His grace.

Pride in the Church and Faith Community

Pride doesn’t just live in the world—it lives in the church. It hides in theological debates, ministry competition, and spiritual elitism.

Romans 12:3 reminds us, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” Yet how often do we measure faith by knowledge, gifting, or visibility?

The goal of our faith isn’t to be right—it’s to be righteous. And righteousness isn’t earned—it’s received.

We need to trade prideful performance for Spirit-led presence. To seek unity over ego. To remember we’re all beggars pointing to the same Bread.

Pride and Performance

For years, I lived on the treadmill of performance—especially in my spiritual life. I thought if I prayed more, achieved more, or looked holier, I’d be closer to God.

But that mindset only fed my pride and deepened my exhaustion. Pride says, “Earn your worth.” Grace says, “You already have it.”

Now, I live for an audience of One. And when I mess up, I repent—not perform. When I succeed, I give credit—not take it.

Pride in Relationships

Pride kills relationships. It refuses to apologize, refuses to forgive, and refuses to listen. It clings to being right, even when it costs everything.

I’ve seen this play out in my own life—marriages strained, friendships broken, all because someone (often me) couldn’t say, “I was wrong.”

Humility opens the door to healing. It says, “I value the relationship more than being right.” And in that space, love can grow.

What Freedom from Pride Feels Like

Let me tell you: there’s nothing like walking free from pride.

When I started letting pride die, I found peace. I found clarity. I found God again—not as a concept I mastered, but a Savior I desperately needed.

I stopped needing applause. I stopped fearing failure. I started walking in grace.

It’s not perfect—I still battle pride every day. But now I’m aware. Now I fight. Now I choose the lower seat and let God lift me up.

A Daily Choice: Humble Yourself

Luke 14:11 says, “All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” The choice is ours.

Pride doesn’t die once. It dies daily.

Each day, I have to crucify my ego. Each day, I have to surrender the throne. And each day, God meets me in that place with grace and peace.

Conclusion: Choose the Lower Seat

Pride leads to destruction. Humility leads to freedom. It’s that simple—and that difficult.

But the good news? You don’t have to do it alone. God gives grace to the humble. And He’s ready to meet you in your surrender.

So today, I challenge you: Choose the lower seat. Let go of ego. Embrace humility. And walk in the joy and freedom of grace.

Call to Action

Journal: Where does pride show up in your thoughts, words, or relationships? Pray: “Lord, expose the pride in me and replace it with humility.” Practice: Do one act this week that no one sees and that benefits someone else.

Let’s walk this path together—lower, freer, and full of grace.