DANGERS OF PRIDE
Proverbs 25:14-16, 27-28
Pride can be described as the character of a person who has a bloated estimate of his own merits, making him to look down on others, treating them with contempt and disrespect. This is synonymous with vainglory, which is exaggerated regard of oneself with undue favour (estimation) over others. Pride is self-deceiving, driven by lust for attention and acclamation.
God hates pride and 1 Peter 5:5 says “…God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”. A proud person can be said to have shifted confidence in God to confidence in self thereby pitching himself against God. The attitude of God toward pride has never been positive.
The Bible says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). A life that is filled with pride is one that is preparing for destruction. The person can be literally described as sitting on a keg of gun powder or better still, disaster waiting to happen. If such an individual has been exalted before, the Bible says his fall is imminent.
The solution to pride is nothing but humility. James 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and in due time He shall lift you”. If you desire God’s lifting, you must eschew pride and embrace true humility.The call to humility is definitely not a call to stupidity. In whatever you do, the test for pride is to weigh your actions to see who is being glorified thereby. If you are the one relishing in the glory, there is need for repentance.
MEDITATION: “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit” (Proverbs 29:23).
