In Proverbs, chapter thirteen, verse ten, people often quarrel and contend for their ideas because of pride: in doing so, they may desire preeminence, as in Luke twenty-two, verse twenty-four. They become rebellious against authority, as in Numbers twelve, verse two, or Biblical truth, as in Second Timothy four, verses three through four, or be driven by a divisive or contentious spirit, as in First Corinthians three, verses three to four, and First Corinthians eleven verse sixteen. When arguments occur, we need to ask ourselves whether pride is involved or whether they honestly are contending for the truth, as in Galatians two, verse four, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.”
The theme verse, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Other scriptures about pride are in Proverbs sixteen, verse eighteen, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Psalms seventy-three, verse six, “Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.” These examples indicate the danger of having such a character that it attracts an unrighteous environment.
Contention is like competing against another to defeat them in a sense. Some challenges become so personal that those who act in a prideful way also exude hate for their opponent when in fierce competition. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts, as in Psalms ten, verse four. “For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak,” as in Psalms fifty-nine, verse twelve.