“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
Allure of Pride
We all want to feel good about ourselves. There’s nothing inherently wrong with healthy self-esteem. But when our sense of self becomes inflated and disconnected from reality, that’s when pride takes root.
The temptation is to see ourselves as better than others, to take credit for our talents and accomplishments without acknowledging God’s role.
Pride whispers that we are supremely competent, extremely knowledgeable, and utterly impressive. It’s seductive but dangerously deceptive.
Pride causes us to focus on promoting ourselves rather than pursuing God’s kingdom. We become consumed with preserving a flawless image rather than developing Christlike character.
Pride prevents us from being teachable because we already think we know it all.
It blinds us to our own flaws and leads us to look down on others. A prideful person is never satisfied, constantly chasing after more admiration, power, and success to feed their inflated ego.
Pitfalls of Pride
Proverbs warns that pride leads to destruction. A haughty spirit precedes a fall. When we think too highly of ourselves, we inevitably stumble. Pride makes us resistant to correction and unable to admit fault.
We refuse to take responsibility for our mistakes which can then spiral into bigger problems.
Pride isolates us from community and authentic relationships, as no one wants to be around someone with an superiority complex.
It also limits our capacity to show grace, empathy and compassion to others.
Pride prevents us from acknowledging our deep need for God. We start to operate independently, trusting in our own wisdom and strength rather than seeking the Lord’s.
We become blind to our weaknesses and inadequacies apart from Christ. Relying on self rather than surrendering to God is a sure path to ruin.
All it takes is one gust of adversity to blow over a house of cards built on the shifting sands of pride.
Cultivating Humility
The antidote to pride is humility. This begins by recognizing that every good thing we possess comes from God. Our talents and abilities are gifts from Him.
Any wisdom or knowledge we’ve gained is by His grace.
When we start each day acknowledging our dependence and need for God, it puts us in the right posture before Him.
Regularly confessing our sins and weaknesses also keeps us humble. Spending time serving others shifts our focus off ourselves.
Practicing gratitude fuels humility as we become aware of just how much God and others contribute to our lives.
As we grow in humility, we become more open to correction, eager to learn, and willing to submit to God’s will over our own.
We develop compassion, patience, and grace for others. And we experience the true freedom of resting in who God made us to be, without pretense or self-reliance.
For “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6). The path of humility leads to wisdom, joy and closeness with God.
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