The Danger of Pride

I have seen the phrase "celebrate pride" often of late, but I cannot from a biblical perspective be persuaded to do so.  Pride is always a precursor to destruction, and therefore I have great concern for all who rejoice to embrace it.  Much of my young life was poisoned with pride and self-righteousness, and pride would have ruined me completely apart from the grace and mercy of God.  Those who celebrate pride celebrate their own destruction.  Pride was found in Satan in heaven, and he will ultimately be cast down to hell.

John warned Christians in 1 John 2:15-17, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."  Pride is of this world, and this world is passing away.  "But shouldn't I be proud of my children?"  Proud?  No.  You should feel blessed and give God praise, for it is God who has given them success.  Every time we are tempted to pride, we ought to give praise to God.  If anyone had cause to be proud it would be God, but His immutable character is marked with humility.  Pride is always a sin, absolutely contrary to a holy, righteous God.

Proverbs 8:13 reads, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate."  Pride and arrogance is an evil way before the LORD which only leads to destruction.  God said through the prophet in Ezekiel 16:49:  "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."  Pride was the iniquity of Sodom, and pride nests in the heart of every person.  My flesh is utterly steeped in pride.  It is only the indwelling Spirit of the Living God who has delivered me from bondage to it.  To this day pride fights tirelessly for control in my mind and heart, desiring to be my cruel master once again.  Those who walk in pride God is able to abase.

The Word of God opens our eyes to the grave danger of pride, and helps us realise our need to be transformed from within.  Here are some quick-hitters from the Proverbs:  Proverbs 11:2 says, "When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom."  Proverbs 16:18 states, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."  And Proverbs 29:23:  "A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honour."  It is pride which keeps a man from God as it is written in Psalm 10:4:  "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts."  Pride is an abomination to God, as it says in Proverbs 16:5:  "Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; though they join forces, none will go unpunished."

To point out the pride which exists in the world and naturally in every human heart is like saying, "Water is wet."  It is a blatantly obvious point, a truth with which we are all intimately acquainted.  The point of this post is not to prompt us to accuse or point fingers at others, but for each of us to ask God to examine our own hearts according to His righteousness:  "LORD, is there any part of my life where I celebrate pride?  I repent and forsake it all.  Cleanse me of all my hateful pride!"  Pride poses a great danger to all people, and Christians who cling to their pride add hypocrisy to their abominations.  Those who walk in pride God will abase, and those who walk humbly God will exalt.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:29, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."