The Merriam-Webster Dictionary offers multiple definitions for “pride.” A positive one is noted as, “A feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by others.” This is what we attribute as good or healthy pride.
The dictionary also describes another type of pride as, “A feeling that you are more important or better than other people.” The latter definition is the one which I believe we and the Bible takes offense. This feeling of superiority is the pride the Bible describes as one of the sins that the Lord hates. Undoubtedly, because this type of pride elevates one human being above another, and the Lord who created us all sees us as equals.
According to “Psychology Today,” pride is often driven by poor self-worth. We feel so badly about ourselves that we compensate by feeling superior to others. We look for flaws in others as a way to hide how we feel about ourselves. Criticizing others then becomes a defense mechanism which shields us from recognizing our own shortcomings. Because of this, pride keeps us from asking for forgiveness or admitting when we make mistakes. When pride takes hold of us, we feel we are always right and that something is always wrong with the other person.
As people we take pride in many things, such as our accomplishments, our family, and achieving our goals. We must be careful, though, in attaching so much value in things that they begin to define us. When this happens, we spend our time trying to achieve more to stay ahead and feel good about ourselves. If we continue on this path, however, we will set ourselves up to be unhappy. While it is not wrong to achieve goals and pursue them with excellence, we must be careful not to let them define who we are. For example, have you ever had someone you meet disclose all their titles and accomplishments before they even give you his or her name? That might be an indicator that they’ve attached too much of their worth and value in an accomplishment – and that can lead them straight to pride.
Once we understand that we don’t have to prove anything to anybody, or even to ourselves, we can begin to let go of pride. And if we fail at something, it does not mean that we ourselves are a failure, understanding that we gave it our best attempt. Remember that the Lord does not expect us to be perfect and that He is always available to help us. He loves us as He created us “fearfully and wonderfully.”