The ugly behavior that results from pride

The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished (Proverbs 16:5).

Pride is the worst sin of all, because it pushes God out of the picture. Pride was the chief sin in the Garden of Eden. Remember how Satan tempted Eve to sample the forbidden fruit? He said, when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God (Genesis 3:5). The devil appealed to human pride, and rebellion followed—our first parents broke the only command God had given them, because they wanted to be His equal. As a result, God punished their newfound corruption with the terrible sentence of death.

Pride is a problem everywhere you turn. Politicians grandstand during Senate hearings and on the floor of the House, sure that they are absolutely right and the opposition is dangerously wrong. Pride moves commentators in the media to mix editorializing with news reporting. Pride leads sports stars to talk trash about their opponents and even take shots at their teammates. National and religious pride can lead to war, terrorism, and rioting in the streets.

But pride can sweep you up unawares, too. We all want to be accepted, admired, and respected. It’s easy to fall into a group of people that share common values—a taste for fashion, commitment to a sports team, or a shared cultural identity. Sadly, these groups can easily change into cliques. The fashionable girls laugh at other students who are overweight or socially awkward. The top athletes treat their teachers with disrespect, confident they are too valuable to be punished by the administration. A group of local kids pick on the few in the school who are seen as foreigners. This despite the fact that we are all God’s children, and equally valued in His sight.

Pride also sparks gossip. No one wants to feel like a loser, so when other people do something bad, it is easy to point the finger and start spouting criticism. Which is completely unjustified. You might not have done what they did, but you have done plenty wrong yourself. Scripture says, The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have become united in corruption; there is no one who does good, not a single person (Psalm 14:2-3). None of us can legitimately claim the moral high ground over anyone else.