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Questions & Answers

Pride

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Spiritual Life › Pride

The question

I do not understand the concept of pride and its boundaries. Isn’t God proud of His creation? Is it lawful to be proud of one’s success?

The answer

Pride is the excessive love of one's own excellence. It is the frame of mind in which a man, through the love of his own worth, aims to withdraw himself from subjection to God. "Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord" (Prov 16:5), "A proud and haughty man; "Scoffer" is his name; He acts with arrogant pride" (Prov 21:24).

To be proud of your own accomplishment is acceptable if you attribute it to the Lord saying, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor 15:10).

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 765 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.