Don't Confuse Pride with Preference

What are some things you prefer in life? Have you ever wondered what determined those preferences? Preference is a greater liking for one alternative over another. Have you ever participated in something you didn’t prefer and felt uneasy, restless, and just ready to go? Well maybe it wasn’t because of preference you felt like that. Could it have been your pride making you feel restless because you didn’t get your way? I’ll share with you my experience when I confused my preference with pride.

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I prefer nature hikes, than walking downtown Chicago. Now that doesn’t mean I don’t like walking downtown, I would still do it and enjoy it, but on this particular day I didn’t enjoy my walk downtown. My brother in Christ and I went on our own architectural tour of Chicago. During our walk I began to feel weird. I wasn’t enjoying myself, and I was feeling aggravated at looking at buildings. I really wanted to feel excited as my brother did, but it was a struggle to hide my countenance.

My irritation took over my facial muscles and my brother began asking me what’s wrong. I couldn’t wrap my mind around why I was feeling restless. Trying to justify my feelings, I began to tell myself, “I’m only feeling this way because this is not my preference.” Immediately the LORD corrected me…

“It’s not your preference that’s making you uneasy, but pride that you’d rather do your own thin and have people follow you. Don’t confuse preference with pride.”

Responding to His word was a heart of repentance, yet grateful that My Father loves me so much that He corrected me.

Hebrews 12:5-6-…”My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives.”

The difference between pride and preferences:

Preference:        Thinking about other's interest than my own. 

Pride:                 Thinking about what interest me and no thought of anyone else. 

Preference:        I can compromise with my friends to do an activity without any ill feelings

Pride:                 I really don’t want to compromise, and if the activity is what I don’t want then I’ll                                           participate halfheartedly or not at all.

Preference:        It’s not about me

Pride:                 It’s all about me

Pride is an ugly fellow with an agenda which only involves the benefit of self. Pride will try to infiltrate into your life by any means necessary. For me pride tried to hide itself within my preferences. Pride is a hindrance to growth in Christ, and your relationship with God and others.

1st Peter 5:5-6- Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

Pray that the LORD may reveal to you any aspects of pride in your life. He may reveal to you that your preferences were birthed out of pride. It’s though prayer and the Holy Spirit that we are able to humble ourselves to God and esteem others than ourselves.


Romans 12:10- Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.