Pride -- Good, Bad and ugly

Proverbs 11:2English Standard Version (ESV)

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

When does pride become a problem?  

Is it wrong to be proud of your accomplishments?
Is it wrong to be proud of your children? 
Goodness, no.  



The pride that causes problems is the pride that says we are better than anyone else, that everyone should listen to us, or that our ways are the only ways. (This is also self-righteousness)  Pride is a sin when we want people to respect us more than God or feel that we deserve recognition for all the great things we have done or said or for how we look.  

I was a school teacher at the beginning of my career and one day I saw something that on paper sounded great, but scared me to death.  A new program was being used in the early grades where each child was given a mirror and told to look into it and say "you are the most important person in the world".  

Self-esteem?  Or something much worse?  I agree that children need to feel good about themselves, to believe that they are equal to other children, but this went too far.  This went to a very scary Pride.

The bible says to think of others as better than yourselves. 


Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3


My teaching career was from 1980 to 1989 so now we have raised that generation and another is growing up fast.  What do you think of them? Some of them are wonderful people but this current generation seems to me to be quite selfish and prideful.  "What is in it for me?" is the cry of the day.

Satan was created as a perfect being. He is described as originally being wise and completely righteous. However, pride caused Satan to fall, ("your heart was lifted up because of your beauty"), since he wanted to receive the worship due to God alone.  (Evidence for God - online)

Ezekiel 28:14-17 ESV /

You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.


All that we have, all that we know, all that we accomplish comes from God.   We can't ever forget this.  Think of Proverbs again.  I would rather have wisdom than disgrace. Let us strive to give God that glory and not ourselves.


Proverbs 11:2English Standard Version (ESV)

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with the humble is wisdom.

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