{"id":43641,"date":"2022-02-01T17:21:49","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T14:21:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=43641"},"modified":"2025-04-29T22:49:44","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T19:49:44","slug":"what-is-the-pride-of-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2022\/02\/01\/what-is-the-pride-of-life\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Pride of Life?"},"content":{"rendered":"

1 John 2:16-17<\/strong> says:
\n\u201cFor everything in the world\u2014the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life\u2014comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The \u201cpride of life\u201d<\/strong> is a spiritual danger that reflects a heart rooted in self-glorification rather than God-glorification. Theologically, it refers to an attitude of arrogance and self-sufficiency that arises from possessions, achievements, or social status\u2014trusting in worldly things instead of in God. It’s not just having material things, but finding your identity, purpose, or security in them.<\/p>\n

According to 1 John 2:16, the pride of life\u2014along with the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes\u2014is not from the Father but from the world. These are the very elements that led to the fall of humanity (Genesis 3:6) and that continue to distract believers from God’s will today.<\/p>\n

Jesus warned against this mindset in Luke 12:15-21<\/strong>, where He tells the parable of the rich fool:
\n“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.\u201d<\/em> (v.15)<\/p>\n

The rich man, after storing up goods for himself, thought he could finally relax and enjoy life. But God called him a fool, saying:
\n“This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?\u201d<\/em> (v.20)<\/p>\n

This teaches us a vital theological truth:<\/strong>
\nReal life\u2014eternal life\u2014does not come from what we own but from a relationship with God. The pride of life is ultimately idolatry; it replaces God with self or material things. Jesus emphasized in Matthew 6:19-21<\/strong>:
\n“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth\u2026 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven\u2026 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

So, we must ask ourselves:<\/p>\n