Do you want to know when a person is likely to make a mistake, or ruin what they have spent their whole life building? It’s when they fall into pride. Pride is being in love with yourself. It is thinking of yourself more highly than you should.
Unfortunately, pride is a prerequisite for failure and humiliation. There is a passage of scripture in the Christian bible that says “pride goes before a fall.” There is yet another passage that warns that God opposes the proud; that means he works against the prideful. Have you ever been in a season where you’re putting so much effort into one project or another only to realize that you’re not making progress. Ask yourself if you’ve been walking in pride.
Now certainly, you can be in a season of testing or a season of waiting where you’ve not done anything wrong – you’re fulfilling your purpose – but you’re a season of waiting or preparation. That’s not what I’m talking about in this article. I’m referring to people who are prideful and the dangers of that condition.
Initially Subtle
What scares me about pride is that it is initially subtle. You can fall into pride and not immediately know it. For example, have you ever witnessed someone who was puffed up with pride and it was apparent to everyone except the person in question? I believe that pride can be intertwined with the spirit of deception. You fundamentally believe that you can get away with anything; that is deception.
And what happens when you’re in pride or living in deception? Your downfall is imminent. I don’t care how much you have accomplished, how well-connected you are, or how much money you may have. Each of us can get it wrong or experience a fall from grace. Want proof? Consider the many political, church or celebrity scandals and you’ll see that persons who are prideful set themselves up for ruin.
Humility is the Antidote for Pride
If this is you, remember the antidote to pride is humility. It having the humility to consult others and to be accountable to others. No one is perfect and everyone can make a mistake. But being accountable to others, and being willing to accept wise counsel will help you avoid or get out of pride.
Jennifer R. Farmer, known as The PR Whisperer, is a crisis communications expert, podcast host, and small business owner. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting volunteering and reviewing bakeries.