In what ways can we identify "arrogance" within ourselves? Verse in Focus “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not arrogant.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4 What Scripture Reveals about Arrogance • Arrogance is the opposite of love’s patience and kindness. • It grows out of envy and boasting, placing self above others. • It resists submission and correction (Proverbs 13:10). • God actively opposes it, while extending grace to the humble (James 4:6). Personal Diagnostic: Signs Arrogance May Be Hiding in My Heart • Irritation when others receive praise or recognition I wanted. • A habit of steering conversations back to my achievements. • Dismissing advice because I “already know.” • Feeling secretly superior to those who struggle where I’m strong. • Treating interruptions or delays as personal insults. • Measuring worth by comparisons rather than by Christ’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 10:12). • Neglecting prayer or Scripture because “I’ve got this.” • Resisting acts of humble service that gain no spotlight (Philippians 2:3–4). Monitoring Words and Attitudes • Boasting: verbal proof that pride is unchecked (Jeremiah 9:23). • Sarcasm or cutting humor aimed at elevating myself. • Quick, harsh judgments of motives without facts (Luke 18:11–14). • Complaints when roles feel “beneath” me. Heart-Level Roots to Watch • Self-reliance: trusting ability over God’s grace (Proverbs 3:5–7). • Ingratitude: forgetting every good thing is from Him (1 Corinthians 4:7). • Comparison: crafting identity by ranking against others. • Entitlement: assuming I deserve more than I receive. Practical Steps Toward Humility • Daily rehearse the gospel—Christ’s cross levels all ground (Galatians 6:14). • Thank God aloud for specific gifts, redirecting glory to Him. • Seek feedback and correction; welcome it without defense (Proverbs 9:8–9). • Serve secretly where applause is absent (Matthew 6:3–4). • Celebrate others’ successes as God’s work, not my loss. • Meditate on passages exalting God’s greatness and human dependence (Isaiah 40:12–31). Living the Verse When patience and kindness mark my interactions, envy fades, boasting quiets, and arrogance loses its grip. True love—Christ’s love—displaces pride and fills the heart with humble confidence in Him alone. |
    |