"Good morning! Did you know there are many people who seem to be getting away with something every moment that is very wrong, that their own heart becomes more brazen to it, that it becomes an accepted attribute in one's character? This of course, all has to do with pride. Pride is the most misunderstood attribute of all human display of character. In fact, it is often glamorized or celebrated as a great attribute to have. But is it really?
Consider that it was the devil who first acted in pride. His desire to be like God became his own demise. Satan was so obsessive to be more than he was, that he connived at every level to improve his own idea of himself. He just couldn't stand the thought of being second fiddler, so he sought how he might usurp God and sit on His throne as if he were god. Pride is really a very ugly attribute to develop in one's life, simply because pride is a mask of one's own faults that you feel the need to cover them up so others will think better of you. A life of lies.
Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience is a still, small voice that is saying to us, something is terribly out of tune in your heart. C.S. Lewis offers some spiritual insight, 'A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you.' Mr. Lewis has pointed out something of great importance here, pride blinds the eyes where we can't see that God is ever before us. We can't hide from the all-seeing God who knows our hearts, better than we do. Pride is ugly, self-serving, and hates whatever makes it feel less than the best!
Pride is the decay of all of humanity, because it revels in itself. It shows up arrogantly in the various human emotions that are out of control. For instance, your temper gets you into trouble, and it's pride that will keep you there. Why? Because where we should be ashamed of our pride, we become proud of our shame by attempting to make it a good characteristic to have. Another example we could point out, is a haughty spirit can bring pride and poverty together, yet they don't actually get along, but they do often live together. Pride has so many negative aspects to it that we couldn't possibly address them here. But know this, pride is NOT a good characteristic in any form. It is an attribute of a devil who always wants to be the best at someone else's expense." ~Dad~ |
