Pride is arrogant self-worship. It is the sin of exalting one's own interests above the interests of others. Pride craves for admiration, and sometimes, even adoration. It does not like to share the limelight. The proud are in love with themselves and seek to bring attention to their own admirable qualities.
Pride is very subtle and can manifest itself in strange ways. No one is exempted from the temptation of pride. It is so rooted in our fallen nature.
Pride is the reason why, in our materialistic society, people buy things they do not need with money they do not have, just to impress people they do not even know.
In Proverbs 6 : 16-19, the wise man lists seven cardinal sins that God hates and detests - pride is the first. In other words, the root of pride is the fountainhead of all the other sins. This makes it vital for us to understand, and walk free from, this enemy of our souls.
Galatians 6:4 tells us that there is a pride that is legitimate and healthy. Man wants and needs to feel good about himself. But this God-given dignity and healthy pride is one that comes from self-examination before God, not comparison with man. The key to healthy pride then is not to compare ourselves with others. Sinful pride emerges when we compare and contrast our strengths with the weakness of others in order to make ourselves feel superior. We may do so either verbally on the outside, or subtly on the inside.
Healthy pride can be nurtured when we realise that in the Bible, humility is not equal to humiliation. Humility enhances the image of God in us. Humiliation destroys our God-given diginity. Humility is demonstrated not in putting ourselves down, but in lifting others up.
A Christian can thus be both proud and humble at the same time. He can be proud of who God has created him to be and yet stay humble because he does not look down on others or consider himself more highly than he ought to.
Proverbs 16:5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this : They will not go unpunished.
Isaiah 66: 2 .. "This is the one I esteem : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
Matthew 23 : 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
[Extract from Pulling Down Pride by Benny Ho]
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