The Root of the Problem (Part 7): Arrogance

The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome

The Bible plainly labels arrogance as a sin. James tells us that “God is opposed to the proud” (James 4:6). The Proverb writer lists pride as one of the things which the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:16-17).

Arrogance is often mentioned in lists of sins – the sins of the Gentiles (Romans 1:30), those which Paul feared would be found among the saints in Corinth (2 Corinthians 12:20), and the sins of false teachers (2 Timothy 3:2). The reason it can be found in these lists is because arrogance is usually connected to other sins. We can think of arrogance as a “gateway” sin. It opens the door to many others. Often it is the beginning of our downfall.

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

Unfortunately, this warning is too often ignored. Arrogance is a sin in that it leads to more sin and ultimately to destruction. Yet we continue to think more highly of ourselves than we should. When we start thinking this way, we are in danger.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation” (Romans 12:16).

The view we have of ourselves needs to be in line with God’s standard. The way to have sound judgment is to follow God’s word. Instead of being wise in our own sight, we must follow after His wisdom. When we think of ourselves beyond what God has said, our attitudes about both ourselves and God’s standard change.

When We Think too Highly of Ourselves

Arrogance leads us to think that we cannot fall. In this study, we have been looking at how we can overcome sin with the understanding that we are capable of doing so. What if we are successful in giving up sin? Can we let our guard down? Should we boast that we have overcome sin and will never fall again? Certainly not. Even if one gives up sin, the possibility to sin again remains.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Even after we repent and put away sin from our lives, we must be diligent to keep it out. If we begin thinking of our accomplishments – and repentance is an accomplishment, for many people fail in doing it – we risk ignoring the threat of sin and temptation. Remember the example of Peter.

But Peter said to Him, ‘Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.’ All the disciples said the same thing too” (Matthew 26:33-35).

Peter was very confident – a little too confident. He said he would never fall away. Did he? Sure he did. That same night after Jesus was arrested, Peter did what Jesus said he would do – deny the Lord three times (Matthew 26:34, 69-75). He may have been sure of himself at the time he boldly claimed that he would never fall away. But the situation changed, and Peter gave in to the temptation to deny the Lord. Confidence and resolve at one point in time does not guarantee an unwavering faith later. We must remember Peter’s example and be diligent to keep sin from slipping back into our lives.

Arrogance also leads us to believe we are entitled to certain things. Our society has developed this mindset which is currently leading the country into financial ruin. If Satan can convince us that we are entitled to certain things when we are not, we can fall into various temptations: the temptation to not work hard because someone else will supply our needs, to resent others when our needs are not supplied, and to wrong others in order to get what we think we deserve.

This arrogant attitude of entitlement is a far cry from what is commended to us in the Scriptures. Remember the humble attitudes of David and the tax collector of whom Jesus spoke.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:13-14).

Rather than a sense of entitlement, we ought to possess the humility of these men, recognizing that we are undeserving of God’s favor and blessings.

Arrogance will also allow one to think that the rules do not apply to him. When Paul began his letter to the saints in Rome, he spent the latter half of the first chapter indicting the Gentiles for their sins. The Jews, who generally looked down upon the Gentiles, would have recognized these faults already and would be in full agreement with Paul’s assessment of the Gentiles’ state. Unfortunately, the Jews, while recognizing the sinfulness of the Gentiles, had become blind to their own sin.

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things” (Romans 2:1).

You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?” (Romans 2:21-23).

God’s standard that had been violated by the Gentiles applied just as much to the Jews. Though they were able to see the sins of others, they failed to see their own condemned state in light of God’s law. Rather, in their perception they had somehow become above the law.

Uzziah, one of the kings of Judah, illustrates the arrogant mentality of one believing he is above the law. After enjoying a period of great success and prosperity, he became arrogant and sinned against God.

But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God.

But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense. Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because the Lord had smitten him” (2 Chronicles 26:16-20).

The Law of Moses clearly specified that the priestly work, including the burning of incense, was reserved for those of the tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:9-10; 16:39-40). This rule was not to be altered, not even for Jesus when He came in the flesh (Hebrews 7:11-14). Yet in his arrogance, Uzziah believed that he should be able to carry out this work himself. He no longer saw the rule as applying to him, so he sinned.

Learning Humility

The opposite of arrogance is humility. It is this quality that God requires of us today. If we are not humble, God will not accept us.

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

Jesus taught the importance of humility when He began His sermon on the mount with these words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). We know we must be humble. But how do we learn humility?

First, we must remember who we are. We have been made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), yet we are as dust and will return to dust when our life is over (Genesis 3:19). Our life here is “just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). But while here, remember that “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… and that you are not your own” but have been “bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God created us and has redeemed us. Therefore, we are to use the limited time we have to serve Him.

Second, we need to remember who God is. He is the Creator (Psalm 100:3) as well as our judge (2 Corinthians 5:10). He is also the One who deserves our utmost respect. As the Hebrew writer says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Third, we need to remember our place in the grand scheme of things. Paul recognized that though he was an apostle equal to the others, he was himself “a nobody” (2 Corinthians 12:11). No matter who we are, we are just one of many useful members of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:12-14).

As Peter said, “clothe yourselves with humility…for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

Summary

Arrogance is a “gateway” sin, opening the door to further transgressions. To overcome this, you must learn humility. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Understand that you can fall and diligently guard against temptation.


This material is taken from the book, The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome, published by Gospel Armory, © 2010.


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