PRIDE IN MANY DISGUISES

Proverbs 16.18
PRIDE IN MANY DISGUISES
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." (v18)

JONATHAN EDWARDS WRITES OF PRIDE: "The deceitfulness of man's heart is very apparent in spiritual pride and self-righteousness. Here the subtlety of Satan appears paramount. Perhaps one reason for this is his vast experience with it. Indeed it was his own sin."

Satan fell from his place through pride, and with the self-same sin, he caused our first parents to fall. And ever since, he has not ceased to bring us down by it. So Proverbs is full of warnings against the peril of the proud spirit. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace"; "Before his downfall a man's heart is proud" (1 1.2; 18.12).

Pride is the most elusive of all sins, as humility is the most elusive of all virtues. No one can pray for humility and thank God he has received it. No one can say, "l am humble" for then he is proud of his humility, he remains proud still. Pride thus comes in disguise. Every virtue is capable of becoming pride in another dress. Sacrifice, integrity, commitment, prayerfulness or any quality associated with godliness becomes a sin when it is motivated by or manifested with pride.

Pride is the most deceptive of all sins. We are often proud without knowing it. This beast is so at home in the natural habitat of our fallen human nature that we do not see through its camouflage. Indeed, we are most proud when we think we are least proud. Take for example the so-called inferiority complex that plagues many people. "l could never do what he did," they say. On the surface, it appears that they think too lowly of themselves.

See through the deception: the truth may be in the other direction. Someone who compares himself with another, and withdraws for fear of being unable to match, is not humble. He is simply guarding his pride. Likewise, someone who wonders how he could do so badly is not confessing his inadequacy, but is comparing himself against his self-esteem. He is miserable because his pride is hurt.

Whenever we compare ourselves with others, whether we think ourselves as better or worse than others — we end up with pride. Pride is thinking highly of ourselves. Pride is thinking lowly of ourselves. Humility is not thinking of ourselves at all. We do not say, "l can" as if we are able. Neither do we say, "l can't" for it has not occurred to us that we can. We simply forget the "l" and look to the Lord. Pride is self; humility is self-forgetfulness.

Do I recognize my own pride?