Pride - the Good and the Ugly

What does it mean to have pride? According to Google:

 

Pride - a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

 

In this definition, pride is a good thing. You take pride in your hard work. You take pride in your siblings, parents, children, spouse, and friends in their accomplishments.

 

Overall, pride can be a good thing. But it can also become ugly. When exactly does pride become ugly?

 

Pride is ugly when it is a selfish pride. Pride is ugly when you are proud of your own wisdom, and don't lean on the Lord for His wisdom. Pride is ugly when you are proud of your wrongdoings, your sins. Pride is ugly when you are too proud to change your ways. Pride is ugly when you don't humble yourself.

 

Recently, there have been several people I know who have come out on Facebook, saying they are gay and proud of it.

 

It's one thing if they live that life secretly, like an alcoholic or a porn addict would. But saying, "I am proud of my sin," is what gets you into trouble. 

 

I mean, what if you were a serial killer, and you decide to come out on Facebook and say, "I am a murderer and proud of it"? Then your friends comment and say, "I am so proud of you for being who you are! God loves you just the way you are, and so do I!" Uhh...no, I don't think that would go over too well. If they really loved you, they would turn you in and get you help. They wouldn't let you keep murdering people.

 

You try to say, "Well, I mean, murdering and stealing are different. People should be able to live how they please. Whatever makes them happy." So what if raping children made someone happy? What if stealing and killing made someone happy? Where do you draw the line? 

 

Let me first say, I am not a homophobe. Living a homosexual lifestyle is a sin like all the others. Someone struggling with sin does not bother me. We all struggle with sin. Jesus forgives everyone's sins. But when you know it's a sin, and are proud of your sins, and think it's okay because the rest of the world says it is? That's when God brings His judgment.

 

There are so many stories in the Bible when God brought His judgment down on prideful people, the first one being Satan. Satan was proud and would not humble himself, so God threw him out of Heaven. (Isaiah 14:12-14) There were other leaders in the Bible who also would not humble themselves (2 Chronicles 26:16, Isaiah 10:12). Then others were prideful, and when God's judgment came down, they recognized their pride and humbled themselves (2 Chronicles 32:25-26).

 

Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "There are six things the Lord hates - no, seven things He detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family." Did you catch that? "Haughty eyes" is pride, which is the first thing on the list. Here are some other verses about pride:

 

"Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin." -Proverbs 21:4

 

"The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day." -Isaiah 2:11

 

"All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech." -Proverbs 8:13

 

"Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." -Proverbs 11:2

 

"The Lord detests the proud, they will surely be punished." -Proverbs 16:5

 

"Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall." -Proverbs 16:18

 

"Better to live humbly with the poor, than to share plunder with the proud." -Proverbs 16:19

 

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, or boastful or proud...." -1 Cor. 13:4

 

"For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." -Galatians 6:3

 

"Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!" -Romans 12:16

 

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." -James 4:6

 

Stop being proud of the wrong things. Stop being proud of your sin and your own wisdom. Instead, repent of your sin. Humble yourself.

 

Start being proud of the right things. Be proud of the work God is doing in you. Paul writes in Romans 15:18, "Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me..."

 

Pride can be both good and ugly. So...what are you proud of?