Excessive pride causes many—if not most—of our problems. It grabs hold of a man and makes him do things he wouldn’t do if his humility were intact. It makes a person say things he wouldn’t say if it weren’t for his own pride. It breaches friendships and splits churches. It brings misery to families and causes heartaches and problems in what were thought to be firm and committed relationships.

I’ve seldom seen what commonly are called “church problems” where pride was not involved in some way or another. Oh, I know there are usually doctrinal issues that are presented to excuse the “split,” or pardon the intensity of the verbal exchanges that commonly accompany such a division, but, an honest evaluation of the problem, most of the time involves pride—pride among people that brings about the final segmentation and causes all the hard feelings. And it’s absolutely amazing to me how many times just one man can cause the problem—one man with an excessive amount of pride that will not allow him to be wrong, or patient, or anything else that might bring reconciliation. And I’m not talking about compromising the truth, either; I’m talking about when people’s pride won’t allow for open investigation or won’t tolerate some difference of opinion.

“It’s hard not to react to insults and criticisms. The natural instincts cry out for retaliation; a man’s wounded pride yearns to be vindicated. It’s just hard not to strike back. Dr. Johnson’s advice is helpful…”whatever be the motive of insult, it is always best to overlook it, for folly can scarcely deserve resentment, and malice is punished by neglect.” But even in consideration of that and other statements like “a soft answer turneth away wrath,” it’s not easy to ignore some harsh remark or some stinging comment…” (That’s Life, Too, p. 87).

It’s right—in fact, necessary—to stand for the truth, but it’s not right to do it with a prideful disposition and a haughty attitude. Hear Paul: “Brethren, if any among you be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one, in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). Yes, it’s necessary that we stand for what is right; but that doesn’t give us the right to use the truth for a flailing stick, or a means just to hurt. The “spirit of meekness,” indicates that while we operate from a position of strength, we are still obliged to present our case with restraint and love.

“Pride is a huge barrier to godliness. People are bound by it, slaves to its various tentacles. More than any other human trait, including even greed, it produces sin. It begins early and affects us for all our days. It is involved in every facet of life—education, culture, recreation, business, family—but is never more repugnant than in religion. It turns piety to putridity, holiness into self-righteousness, talent into pomposity, and worship into hypocrisy. It will make a weak man proud, a proud man weak. It covers like a blanket and sticks like glue. Its cost in dollars and cents is astronomical, but its cost in souls is inestimable. It is subtle, wily, even turning humility from a strength to a weakness. It hampers every good cause and dampens even legitimate philanthropy. You can run from it, but not far. You can identify it, but not well. You can expel it, but its relentless pursuit stays relentless. Oh God, deliver me from needless pride” (That’s Life, Too, p. 170).

We all have problems with pride. What to do about it? How to control it?

The first means of keeping it legitimate is to recognize its presence in all that we do. Secondly, the solution to pride comes from a constant association with the word of God. That word shows us, for instance, who and what we really are. It gives us a sense of direction that eliminates inordinate pride, it keeps us away from arrogance. It gives us a proper sense of values, and illustrates what happens when pride is allowed to run a course without proper control. Third—and this, too, comes from our close proximity to God’s word—we must recognize our dependence upon God. “…seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). We are nothing without Him. What does that do to your excessive pride? “For in Him we live, and move, and have our very being” (Acts 17:28). And finally, we must come to realize the result of excessive pride. “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18).

John the Apostle describes “the things that are in the world,” in 1 John 2:15. The third “thing” he says is which is ”not of the Father, but is of the world,” is the “pride of life.” Pride goeth before what?

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