Wikipedia describes ‘hubris’ this way: “… from Ancient Greek ὕβρις describes a personality quality of extreme or excessive pride or dangerous overconfidence and complacency, often in combination with (or synonymous with) arrogance.” (Wikipedia 2024)

You come across the word every so often in the media describing, for example, situations where people were unprepared for an event as a result of a misplaced belief that it wouldn’t happen to them.

Here’s a story from the Bible about a man suffering from hubris: ‘Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”’ (Luke 12:16-21 NLT)

The message about hubris is obvious.

The words at the end of the quote are another message, an even more important one. A rich relationship with God. That’s what’s on offer in God’s Bible. It’s got to be worth looking at seriously.

Reference

"Hubris" - Wikipedia 2024 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubris (13 September 2024)