Dear brothers and sisters, today let us delve into the serious issue of narcissism through the lens of the Bible. Narcissism is characterized by an excessive focus on oneself, often at the expense of others. It is a form of pride that can lead to destructive behavior and broken relationships. The Bible, in its wisdom, offers guidance on how to recognize and deal with this troubling trait.
In the Bible, we see numerous warnings against pride and self-centeredness. One of the clearest examples is the story of King Nebuchadnezzar. This king was filled with pride and believed his kingdom was a testament to his own greatness. However, God humbled him, causing him to lose his sanity and live like a wild animal until he recognized God’s sovereignty. This story teaches us that pride and narcissism are offensive to God and can lead to our downfall.
Jesus Himself warned against self-exaltation. In His teachings, He emphasized humility and service to others as the path to greatness in God’s kingdom. He washed the feet of His disciples, showing that true leadership is found in serving others, not in seeking personal glory. This act was a powerful counter to the narcissistic tendencies that can arise within us.
The Apostle Paul also addressed this issue in his letters. He advised the early Christians to avoid selfishness and to consider others better than themselves. Paul stressed the importance of love, patience, and kindness, which are the antithesis of narcissistic behavior. He urged believers to emulate Christ’s humility and selflessness, which is the foundation of a healthy and loving community.
Narcissism can be particularly harmful within the church, where unity and mutual support are essential. When individuals place their own needs and desires above those of the community, it can lead to division and strife. Therefore, it is crucial for us to examine our hearts and root out any tendencies toward narcissism. We should strive to build each other up and to serve one another in love.
Dear friends, now let’s see the Bible scriptures below that talk about narcissism.
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom”
— Proverbs 11:2
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise”
— Proverbs 12:15
“Pride goeth before destruction, an haughty spirit before a fall”
— Proverbs 16:18
“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, before honour is humility”
— Proverbs 18:12
“An high look, a proud heart, the plowing of the wicked, is sin”
— Proverbs 21:4
“It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory”
— Proverbs 25:27
“Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him”
— Proverbs 26:12
“Let another man praise thee, not thine own mouth; a stranger, not thine own lips”
— Proverbs 27:2
“He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat”
— Proverbs 28:25
“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit”
— Proverbs 29:23
“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, yet is not washed from their filthiness”
— Proverbs 30:12
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto himA proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent bloodAn heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischiefA false witness that speaketh lies, he that soweth discord among brethren”
— Proverbs 6:16-19
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, arrogancy, the evil way, the froward mouth, do I hate”
— Proverbs 8:13
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousnessIdolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresiesEnvyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God”
— Galatians 5:19-21
“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself”
— Galatians 6:3
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, enticedThen when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”
— James 1:14-15
“For where envying strife is, there is confusion every evil work”
— James 3:16
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”
— James 4:6
“For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s”
— Philippians 2:21
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”
— Romans 12:3
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; avoid themFor they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; by good words fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple”
— Romans 16:17-18
“Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenientBeing filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperersBackbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents”
— Romans 1:28-30
“But unto them that are contentious, do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation wrath”
— Romans 2:8
“Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; he that shall humble himself shall be exalted”
— Matthew 23:12
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heavenTherefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward”
— Matthew 6:1-2
“Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; , behold, a beam is in thine own eye?Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye”
— Matthew 7:3-5
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nationsFor thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the northI will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most HighYet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit”
— Isaiah 14:12-15
“For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud lofty, upon every one that is lifted up; he shall be brought low”
— Isaiah 2:12
“Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, prudent in their own sight”
— Isaiah 5:21
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts”
— Psalm 10:4
“He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, despised othersTwo men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a publicanThe Pharisee stood prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publicanI fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possessAnd the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinnerI tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; he that humbleth himself shall be exalted”
— Luke 18:9-14
“The heart is deceitful above all things, desperately wicked: who can know it?”
— Jeremiah 17:9
“Thus saith the Lord , Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his richesBut let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord”
— Jeremiah 9:23-24
“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise extol honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, his ways judgment: those that walk in pride he is able to abase”
— Daniel 4:37
“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord”
— Obadiah 1:3-4
“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, abundance of idleness was in her in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor needy”
— Ezekiel 16:49
“Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God ; Because thine heart is lifted up, thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God”
— Ezekiel 28:2
“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, his head reach unto the cloudsYet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?”
— Job 20:5-7
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts pleasures, living in malice envy, hateful, hating one anotherBut after that the kindness love of God our Saviour toward man appearedNot by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, renewing of the Holy Ghost”
— Titus 3:3-5