Pride Precedes Plummeting

"The Greek word translated pride is tuphoo. Its literal meaning is "to envelop in smoke," but metaphorically, it indicates "conceit," "lifted up," and "high-mindedness." The word pictures a person using smoke as a screen to conceal the image he does not want the public to see." ~John W. Ritenbaugh 

God hates pride. I think we do, too, when we see it in other people. However, we are often blind/oblivious to our own pride/arrogance/self-importance. Egotism is ugly and dangerous. A haughty, prideful spirit causes us to stumble and fall. It is also destructive to relationships. No one enjoys being around a person who is self-centered and conceited. 

Pride comes from inflated views of selves. The cure for poor I-sight (the term I heard from Max Lucado) is dying to self daily and seeing ourselves as God sees us. Once George Mueller (the great prayer warrior of the late 1800s) was asked what his secret was, he replied, "There was a day when I died; died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame of my brethren and friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God." Pride comes from putting selves above God and others. We should humbly acknowledge God in all our ways with thanksgiving. Realize that all we have and all we are is from God and by His grace alone. Have Christlike attitude; put Philippians 2:3-5 into practice.

"For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." ~Jesus (Matthew 23:12) We see the downfall of pride again and again in the Bible and in life. Pride is what caused Lucifer to be thrown out of Heaven. Look at Tower of Babel, Nebuchadnezzar, and Haman. "When the king asked him, 'What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?', Haman thought to himself, 'Who is there that the king rather honor than me?'" (Esther 6:6) Wow...seriously, this is one extremely arrogant dude! He was humbled shortly after that daydreaming. Following the king's command, "Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on the horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, 'This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!'" (Esther 6:11) Can you imagine how humiliated Haman must have felt? He was the one who came up with the idea and he was so sure that he's the one the king wanted to honor. It's a classic case of "a haughty spirit before a fall".

Pride is often a root sin of other sins. Pride can sneak in many different ways. Pride in good looks, in riches, in position, in popularity, in intelligence, etc. There is also spiritual pride. Like the Pharisees. Proud of being more "spiritual"/more spiritually knowledgeable or more "righteous" than others. We must be careful not to fall into that superiority mindset. We all are wretched sinners and can only be saved by God's grace. I personally can use more humility :). Questions I have to ask myself sometimes: Am I being too prideful to admit that I am wrong? Too prideful to say sorry? Too prideful to ask for forgiveness? Too prideful to change?

"This is what the Lord says: 'Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:23-24) Let him/her who boasts boast in the Lord!

I made up an acronym. Pride S.T.I.N.K.S.
Pride... 

Says, "Look at me and what I've accomplished"
Thinks too highly of self
Insists on being right
Needs recognition, admiration, & promotion
Keeps self on the throne
Sets self up for fall and destruction