“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —James 4:6
In addition to not being boastful, the Bible says love is also not arrogant or proud (1 Cor. 13:4). One translation says it’s not puffed up (NJKV). Love doesn’t have an inflated view of itself.
The Greek word used for “arrogant” has to do with bellows that you use for fanning fire in a fireplace. When you push the bellows, the air comes out, blows on the fire, and makes the fire larger. That’s the picture of someone who is not a loving person. He is like bellows, puffed-up and self-inflated.
Bragging is the verbalizing of pride, but arrogance is the attitude of a proud heart that’s overly impressed with itself. I’m sure we can all think of people we know who are arrogant. We don’t like to be around those people, do we? When my spirit is arrogant, it causes people to want to keep me at arm’s length and not draw close. People are drawn toward others who are humble just as God is drawn toward those who are humble. But He resists or stiff-arms the proud.
Make it Personal
Are there ways that you are arrogant or “puffed up” in your interactions with others? How can you choose the path of humility?