8 June 2023 - Being Prideful

According to the Insight into the scriptures, the definition of Pride is, “an unreasonable feeling of superiority as to one’s talents, beauty, wealth, rank, and so forth; to feel no need for God and be totally self-reliant; to look down on others, to feel one deserves or is entitled to certain things due to their hard-work; disdainful behaviour or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanour; haughty bearing.”

Pride is the most dangerous habit for anyone, and even more so for leaders. Leadership, by definition, carries a lot of weight due to the extent of the impact a leader’s behaviour, words, decisions and actions have on others. Prideful leaders believe that they know it all and deserve it all, and that their way is the only way. Being humble and genuinely caring about and valuing others and their contributions are the ways to change it. - Lillit Cholakian

How would you know that you are prideful? This is a list of some indicators of pride.

1. Think you know it all; you don’t have a teachable spirit

2. Seeing yourself to be good at performing specific tasks (Consider yourself superior to certain tasks)

3. Being too proud to ask for help

4. Constantly dominating conversations

5. Take a lot about yourself (Bedoel jy Thinking only about yourself/ Think about yourself all the time?)

6. Thinking that you are better than others

7. Disregard the advice of others

8. Constantly being critical

9. Don’t receive criticism well

10. Unwilling to submit to authority

11. Always wants to be the centre of attention

12. Having trouble trusting or listening to your leaders

What does the Bible say about pride? Read these verses about pride:

Proverbs 6:16-19 (ESV) There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 26:12 (AMP) Do you see a man wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 11:2 (BSB) When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 29:23 (ESV) One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” ― C.S. Lewis

I conclude with: “The proud wish God would agree with them. They are not interested in changing their opinions to agree with God's.” ― Ezra Taft Benson