16/06/2025
Signs of Pride in Ministry: What We Often Miss
Pride doesn’t always shout. It often whispers. In ministry, it rarely shows up as arrogance outright. Instead, it disguises itself in small habits, reactions, and patterns we easily overlook. Here are some subtle signs of pride to watch out for:
𝟏. 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤
When we quickly defend ourselves or get offended by corrections, it may be rooted in a desire to always be right or to protect our image.
𝟐. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬
Whether you feel superior or inferior, constant comparison can be a form of pride—it reveals a need to validate your worth through others.
𝟑. 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝
If you’re discouraged every time you’re not recognized publicly, check your heart. Are you serving for God’s glory or your own affirmation?
𝟒. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 “𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥”
Pride makes us want the spotlight. But in the kingdom of God, the towel and the basin are just as important as the mic and the platform.
𝟓. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲
A proud heart is quick to feel disrespected. It sees correction as attack, and silence as rejection.
𝟔. 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 “𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞” 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲
If you think the church or team can’t function without you, pride may be creeping in. God’s work doesn’t rely on any one person. He is sovereign over it all.
𝟕. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨
Pride isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it just looks like self-reliance. When we stop depending on God in private, we often start performing in public.
𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙮, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧.
As ministry workers, we are not immune to pride but we can grow in humility. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what’s unseen, to correct what’s unhealthy, and to bring our hearts back to the posture of Christ: the Servant-King who came not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗺.
