Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments?

Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments? Can a Christian be proud of his/her accomplishments? Behold, it’s not necessarily wrong to take pride in our work as we thank God for the strength and guidance He gave us to accomplish it. It is important to understand that if we don’t, our work is likely to end up sloppy or incomplete. Remember how Apostle Paul urged his young companion Timothy to be “a worker who does not need to be ashamed” (2 Timothy 2:15). Nevertheless, the Bible warns us against a self-centered, egotistical pride that says, “have a look at me and see what I have accomplished!” But why is this wrong? The first and most important reason is that this type of pride cuts us off from God as we tend to take credit of our accomplishments.

The gifts and abilities that we have are from God who gave us the privilege and opportunity to use them. Therefore, when we take credit for what we have achieved, we remove God from the scene. Psalm 10:4 says, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” We should not allow such to happen to us. Another reason why this type of pride is wrong is because it makes us think that we are better than other people, and this separates us from them and makes us insensitive to their needs. Also, we may take advantage of them and use them for our selfish benefit. Proverbs 21:4 says, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart … produce sin.” Thus, we should all turn to Jesus Christ with a humble heart and acknowledge that all we have is from God.

Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments?

What The Scriptures Say

The Bible says much about accomplishments and pride. However, there is a difference between the kind of pride that God hates (Proverbs 8:13) and the kind of pride we can feel about a job well done (Galatians 6:4) or the kind of pride that we express over the accomplishments of loved ones (2 Corinthians 7:4). The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness or conceit is sin. This kind of pride is a hindrance to seeking God. According to Psalm 10:4, the proud are so consumed with themselves that their thoughts are far from God: “In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Christ teaches that this kind of haughty pride is the opposite of the Spirit of humility that God desires from us: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Jesus Christ promises the Kingdom of God for those who are poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3). The “poor in spirit” are those who recognize their utter bankruptcy and their inability to come to God aside from His Divine Grace. The proud, on the other hand, are so blinded by their pride that they think that they have no need of God, or worse, that God should accept them the way they are because they deserve His acceptance. Proverbs 16:18-19 says, “pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” It is worth remembering that Satan was cast out of Heaven because of pride (Isaiah 14:12-15). He had the selfish audacity of wanting to replace God. However, defiance against God leads to nothing but disaster (Isaiah 14:22).

The Bondage of Pride

Pride prevents one from acknowledging the power, strength, supremacy, ability, and sovereignty of God. Pride has kept many people in the bondage of sin. It has prevented them from accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. Sincerely admitting sin and acknowledging that in our own strength, we can do nothing to inherit eternal life is a constant stumbling block for prideful people. As Christians, we are not to boast about ourselves; if we must boast, we are to proclaim the glories of God Almighty, Father of Creation. Behold, what we say about ourselves is not that important but what God says about us is very important. In fact, our lives depend on what He says (2 Corinthians 10:18).

As a Christian, it is important to understand that pride is sinful because it is giving ourselves the credit for something that God has done. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God Almighty alone and keeping it for ourselves. In other words, pride is self-worship. Behold, anything that we accomplish in the world would not have been possible if God didn’t strengthen and sustain us. In support of this, 1 Corinthians 4:7 says, “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” With this in mind, we are to give glory to God in everything that we do and in everything that we achieve. Instead of being proud of our achievements, we should rather thank God for them as we acknowledge His sovereignty over our lives and everything that we have.

Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments?

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.“

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.“

1 John 5:4 – “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.“

James 3:2 – “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”

1 John 1:8 – “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Group 1 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.“

Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 1:2 – “But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.“

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Group 2 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

Isaiah 26:12 – “O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.”

John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Proverbs 19:21 – “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

James 4:6 – But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 John 2:1-29 – “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: …“

Group 3 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

Revelation 5:12 – Saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

1 Peter 2:9-10 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

1 Timothy 2:4 – “Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.“

Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.“

Genesis 11:6 – And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.”

Group 4 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

1 Corinthians 4:7 – “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?“

2 Timothy 2:21 – “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

John 5:36 – “But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.“

John 3:5 – Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“

Luke 23:43 – And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Group 5 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

Isaiah 40:31 – “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!“

Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

Isaiah 55:11 – “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.“

Mark 10:42-44 – And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”

Group 6 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

1 John 5:20 – “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

1 Peter 2:1-25 – “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. …“

1 Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

Colossians 1:1-29 – “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, …“

Group 7 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

Romans 12:1-21 – “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. …“

2 Corinthians 12:12 – “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.“

Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.“

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Romans 12:3 – “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

Group 8 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Luke 24:3 – “But when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”

Proverbs 11:30 – “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”

Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Proverbs 11:18 – “The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.”

1 Timothy 2:1-15 – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, …“

Group 9 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

Revelation 22:12 – “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.”

Acts 20:28 – “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

Acts 10:34 – So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,”

Ecclesiastes 4:4 – “Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.”

Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Acts 20:35 – “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 10:35 – “But in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.“

Group 10 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

Luke 24:13-35 – “That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. …“

1 John 4:2 – “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,”

Psalm 23:1-6 – “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …“

3 John 1:9 – “I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.“

Group 11 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

3 John 1:10 – “So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.”

1 John 2:16 – “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

1 John 4:1-3 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.“

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Group 12 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

Hebrews 1:1 – “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,”

Hebrews 1:5 – For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?

2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,“

2 Timothy 1:9 – “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”

1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

James 4:4 – “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

James 1:2-4 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.“

Group 13 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 – “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— …”

1 Timothy 2:3 – “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,”

1 Thessalonians 4:13 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.“

Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,“

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.“

Group 14 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

2 Corinthians 8:11 – “So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.“

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

1 Corinthians 10:2 – “And all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,“

2 Corinthians 9:6 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”

Philippians 3:8 – “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ“

Galatians 6:4 – “But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.”

2 Corinthians 11:18 – “Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.“

Group 15 – Is It Wrong To Be Proud Of Your Accomplishments

1 Corinthians 3:8 – “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.“

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 – “Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.“

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 – “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. …“

Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?“