Pride

Pride is one of life’s greatest vices and the Bible has a lot to say about it. Pride will keep a person from having a relationship with God. The person that is full of themself has no room for God. Humility, not pride, is the posture we take so we can know God.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” -James 4:6b, ESV

Pride is often the attitude that precedes some of life’s greatest errors and blunders. It is a recipe for disaster when we think we know it all, have it all figured out, or that we are the exception to the rule. It is easy to overlook the dangers before us when we are consumed with ourselves.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. -Proverbs 16:18, ESV

Pride will make you miss out on the things most meaningful in life. Life’s greatest joys are not found within us, they are found when we get outside of ourselves. From God’s perspective, a humble and lowly spirit is tremendously more valuable than any riches of the world or personal achievements made with a proud spirit.

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. -Proverbs 16:19, ESV

We find ourselves living in a culture where many cling to their pride. We have even begun what some celebrate as pride month. I encourage you to live counter to the culture. When others may think they themselves are the center of truth, humble yourself and look to God for wisdom. When others think that they are not accountable for their actions, choose to live responsibly in the light of God’s truth. When you are tempted to make life all about yourself, choose to love and serve just like our blessed Lord Jesus. Martin Luther said,

The god of this world is riches, pleasure and pride.

So then, we each must make up our own mind, whether we want the god of this world or God himself, whether we walk in self-sufficiency or the grace of Jesus Christ, whether are we will be filled with pride or humility.