“When pride and presumption walk before, shame and loss follow very closely.” – Louis XI of France

“Pride is concerned with who is right.  Humility is concerned with what is right.” – Ezra Taft Benson

“Pride is founded not on the sense of happiness, but on the sense of power.” – William Hazlitt

“Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.” – Andrew Murray

When you look at your life, what was the proudest moment you ever experienced?  Was it a personal accomplishment, a family achievement, or a time when a team or group you belonged to excelled beyond what others thought possible?

Outside of accomplishments and special achievements, are there general areas of your life where you feel a sense of pride?  Maybe it’s an aspect of your character, a particular philosophy you’ve chosen to embrace, or your ability and determination to persevere amid problems or personal chaos.

Pride can begin with an accomplishment or achievement, but as it grows it has a way of infiltrating our personality.  We may not recognize it at first, but over time others can begin to see evidence of it in our everyday behaviors.  Maybe it’s the importance of always having the last word, always thinking our opinion is right and superior to others, or visible in our non-verbal reactions toward others.  Its presence can be seen in our inability to forgive or acting out selfish tendencies that hurt family and friends.

Realize this:  No matter what the accomplishment, possession, or admirable lifestyle choice that has you puffing out your chest a little more, holding your chin high and putting an extra spring in your step; its mere existence in your life places you on a tight rope or slippery slope – that delicate line between healthy self-esteem and prideful arrogance.

This balancing act is one we all experience numerous times in our life.  It’s at the heart or very center of any evil we confront.

It’s pride that causes us to pledge our allegiance to other gods in our life.  “It’s my life and I’ll live it any way I please!”  It’s arrogance that leads us to curse God, steal something that isn’t ours, or to covet what others have instead of us.  The mindset of superiority is at the very root of all gossip and slander that comes out of our mouth.

When you think about each of the Ten Commandments, pride can be found lurking at the center of any moral failure.

“These six things the Lord hates; yes, seven that are an abomination to Him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”   – Proverbs 6:17-19 NKJV

Take notice of the first thing on this list!  Pride is certainly at the center of great evil and comes right before any catastrophe that enters our life or the lives of those we love.

“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”   -Proverbs 16:18 NKJV

So how can we walk firmly on the slippery slope between healthy self-esteem and prideful arrogance?  What can we do to ensure that pride doesn’t get a grip on our circumstances or attitudes?

See God as the Source of All Things

When you glance back at your list of accomplishments, achievements, or circumstances that ignited feelings of pride in your life, can you see how God is at the very center of them?  Can you see how talents, possessions, and positive mindsets take their origin from God Himself?

You might say:

“Well, I made the right choice in the matter…not God.”

“I worked hard to buy that car or house…. not God.” 

“I worked hard for that award and recognition at work…. not God.” 

Or you may even believe YOU have chosen to be benevolent toward others – a choice you made…. not God.

But realize the ability to make a choice in the first place is a gift from God.  God gives us the health to work and the talent to do a good job that leads to the award or recognition we receive.  Wisdom to make the right choices, the discernment to be benevolent versus selfishly stingy, enter our lives from the Source of all things.

Can you see God as the Instigator, the Initiator and the Creator – at the very center of all that makes you feel a sense of pride or self-esteem?  When you see God like this, pride is replaced by a peaceful confidence, a healthy sense of self and a heart of gratitude.

Practice Humility

How are you practicing humility daily – placing others before yourself or listening first and talking later? 

“Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.” – Proverbs 18:12 NKJV

“A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.” – Proverbs 29:23 NKJV

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  – Jesus speaking in Luke 18:14 NKJV

Humility is the firm foundation or footing on the slippery slope between prideful arrogance and healthy self-esteem.  When we embrace an attitude of “More of you and less of me” we stamp out any prideful attitudes or paradigms before they even begin to surface within our lives.

When you think about it, if anyone has the justification to be boastful and full of pride, it’s God Himself!  Yet God is continually humbling Himself in our lives each day – allowing us to choose for ourselves, to go our own way, and to love us even when we least deserve it.  The very essence of God’s nature is humility, seen in His forgiveness, gentleness, loving kindness, and mercy.  The world He created and sustains for us each day testifies to His love and graciousness toward us.  The life of Christ here on earth was one filled with love, service, and placing the needs of others before His own.

Can you see how embracing humility moves us closer to the Source of all things – emulating the behaviors of a God who hates pride – a God who says “More of you and less of Me”?

Make a personal choice each day to center your life in humility.  Listen first, speak last.  Make a commitment to serve the needs of someone you love, or better yet, of a complete stranger who crosses your path.  Serve your spouse or children before meeting your own needs.  Show and tell your boss about the great work of a co-worker.  Be thankful toward someone who has helped you achieve – raising others up and lower yourself in the process.

How can pride get a foothold in an environment like this?  How can destructive arrogance take a hold of your life if you practice “More of you and less of me.”?

Tonight, as you scan your list of accomplishments, I hope you see the fine line between pride and healthy self-esteem.  I pray that you clearly see how God is at the very center of every achievement – realizing the Source of all things has blessed you more than you can ever comprehend! This kind of recognition rightfully gives all the glory to God and stamps out any pride that might surface in our lives.

Let’s take time to assess our current behaviors, identifying any selfish, prideful tendencies and working hard to eliminate them from our personalities.  God can give us the power and ability to readily forgive, to be more open and accepting of others and their opinions, and to embrace a mindset geared toward serving others.  

May God help us all to think harder about humility and its current role in our life – helping us to connect with the concept of “More of you and less of me” – emulating the God we serve!

May God give each of us the wisdom to see how pride comes before great devastation and destruction in our lives and how humility is the remedy to it all!