There’s a quiet danger that can settle into your heart if you’re not paying attention. It doesn’t show up all at once but often grows in silence. The applause and praise of other people can feed this, which could lead to a growing overestimation of your self-importance. If left unchecked, it shapes how you think, the words you speak, and the way you treat other people. I’m talking about being conceited. Pride and conceit often walk hand in hand, and if you let them take root, they will ultimately block what God wants to do in your life. Because this potential lives in all of us (yes, that includes me), we must take an honest look at what it truly means to be conceited and how to guard your heart against it.
What Is the Biblical Meaning of Conceited?
To understand what the word conceited means in the Bible, let’s analyze it within the context of a verse in Scripture. Here is one example:
"He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil." - 1 Timothy 3:6
In listing the qualifications of an elder, Paul makes the statement of one not being a recent convert or they will become conceited. This word, though simple, carries an important tone to it. Here it means to think of yourself more highly than you should. In the original Greek, the word is tuphoó (pronounced too-fo'-o). One definition of this word is blowing smoke. Think of someone filled with hot air, talking only about themselves and not afraid to remind you of how great they are. Other uses of this word include: to be puffed up, swollen with pride, or blinded by pride or self-importance. I might say it this way: Someone who overestimates their importance because the smoke (hot air) of their own pride and arrogance blinds them.
Biblical Warnings against Conceit and Pride
The Bible warns us in multiple places about the dangers of conceit and pride. Here are just a few examples, and these verses speak for themselves.
Pride and conceit bring disgrace
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom." - Proverbs 11:2
Pride proceeds destruction
"Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18
God hates pride
"There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes…" - Proverbs 6:16-17a
God opposes proud people
"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
'God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.'” - James 4:6
Pride and conceit are deceptive
"If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves." - Galatians 6:3
Pride and conceit give you a false sense of security
"The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks
and make your home on the heights,
you who say to yourself,
‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’" - Obadiah 1:3
Pride and conceit make you worse than a fool
"Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them." - Proverbs 26:12
Examples of Conceit in Scripture
Perhaps the greatest example of conceit in the Bible is Lucifer (Satan) himself. His pride and arrogance were direct contributors to his downfall, which led to him being cast out of heaven. Isaiah 14 tells of Satan’s desire to overthrow the throne of God. Listen to the arrogance in this depiction.
You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit. - Isaiah 14:13-15
Here, Lucifer declares what he is going to do and reflects the arrogance that is flowing from his conceited heart. This is fitting because at the center of pride and all conceit is “I.” Conceit and pride are about me, myself, and I. When this rises within the heart of a man, God opposes this and will eventually humble you. Here are three more examples of those God humbled because they became rich with pride and conceit.
- King Nebuchadnezzar boasted of his great power and the kingdom he had, and God caused him to lose his mind and live like an animal for seven years until he humbled himself.
- King Uzziah became powerful and his pride led him to enter the temple to burn incense on the altar. His arrogance led God to strike him with leprosy for the rest of his life.
- In the story of Esther, Haman demanded honor and tried to eliminate the people of God. His arrogance caused him to be hung on the gallows he built for Mordecai.
One Sunday morning, I was playing for the worship team at my church. As I was playing in the middle of worship, I got caught up in how good I was sounding. When I should have been worshipping God, I was admiring the sounds of my handiwork. At that moment, the stench of garbage filled my nostrils. God was reminding me that when pride fills your heart, this is what it smells like to him.
The Bible is clear. God hates conceit, pride, and everything that comes with it. That’s why when he smells it, he works to root it out of your life, for his glory, but also for your own good.
What Does the Bible Say about Humility?
While God hates pride, he draws close to humility.
…These are the ones I look on with favor:
those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word. - Isaiah 66:2b
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. - Matthew 23:12
What draws God to humility is your recognition of your need for him. Let’s do a quick comparison.
- God holds all power. We hold little to no power by comparison.
- God is present everywhere at the same time. We can barely be present in one place most of the time.
- God knows all things; we know little.
When you understand what this means, it exposes a simple truth. We have no reason to be conceited. We can’t even boast about our salvation because even that is a work God did for us, which we could not do on our own.
What Causes Conceit to Form in Our Hearts?
One way conceit forms in our heart is when we make comparisons in the wrong direction. Rather than comparing ourselves to how great God is, we often measure ourselves against other people. When you do that, it is easy to find someone you are better than, and if you make those comparisons too long, pride will set in.
If you remember the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector, the Pharisee compared himself to the tax collector and declared himself righteous because he was not like that man. However, the tax collector declared himself a sinner because he compared himself to God. You can guess which one walked away justified.
When you humble yourself before the Lord, you acknowledge how desperate you are without him. In this position, you can find all the strength and resources you need. Instead of heaven being against you (the conceited), heaven is working for you (the humble). Which side of that equation do you want to be on?
Prayer to Guard against Pride
Guarding against pride requires constant prayer and checking your heart because it can strike at any moment. Here is a prayer to help in your battle with pride and conceit.
Lord, sometimes pride creeps into my heart. I may not go looking for it, but somehow it finds me. There are times I recognize it and other times I am oblivious. Father, search my heart and make me aware when this is happening. Remove any conceit, arrogance, or self-importance that I am holding on to. Help me to always see myself by considering you and not by comparing myself to others. Remind me that without you, I can do nothing. Keep me humble so I can hear your voice and live in a manner that reflects your grace at work in my life. Let me live for your glory and honor and not for my own, always walking humbly before you. Thank you for doing this work in me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclusion: Walking Humbly with God
If you take a posture that recognizes that everything you have does not come from your own hands, that keeps you humble. Your salvation is from God, not from you. Your life comes from God, not from you. Even your gifts, talents, wisdom, or any other abilities all come from God and not from you. I could go on, but I think you understand the message. When you live from the place of humility, you will discover all the blessings that God gives to those who walk humbly before him. These may not be material blessings, but something far greater. You become a vessel God can work in and work through to influence the lives of others for his kingdom and for all eternity. When you consider that, I don’t know if there is anything else more humbling, yet encouraging.
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