Angles of Pride

(Pro 16:5 KJV)  Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Pride.  In one sense it is part of the human condition.  In that sense we are all locked inside our heads and can’t get out.  It is impossible for me to know what you are feeling and in a sense what you are thinking.  Compare it to pain.  Everyone experiences pain but we respond to it differently.  I had some wisdom teeth out years ago.  Everyone I knew told me how terrible it was.  They focused on the pain and the days of suffering.  I am still wondering what they were talking about.  Sure, I could not eat pop corn for a few days but it was really no big deal.  Did I not have any pain or did I just ignore it?  I will never know.

In another sense our pride is an attitude.  It is an attitude that looks down on others.  That is the basic root meaning of the word, to be elevated.  The most common translation is “high”.  The only problem with being taller or higher is if we think it is some kind of quality that makes us better.  It is the same way of thinking that can lead to racial hatred or class warfare.  

So?  We need to keep remembering that we are all sinners saved by grace.  The balancing act comes in when we realize we have gifts and they need to be exercised.