Pride begins with insecurity, a feeling of inferiority. To compensate, the prideful in embryo seek attention.
If not tempered by service to others, they become abnormally self-centered. They can hardly utter a sentence without the words I, me, my, mine. They truly believe they are better than others in all aspects of life.
This self-delusion and urge to feel superior multiplies on itself. Vain imaginations and egotistical interpretations distort reality.
Compliments become insufficient; they want to be worshiped. They come to view themselves as deity and compare themselves to God.
But pride is the antithesis of Christ-like behavior.
Sooner or later pride will always backfire. We have seen a recent example. So sad that an ounce of humility might well have led to success.
Only the humble make it to the top – the true top.
Gary Lawrence is a pollster and the author most recently of “The Magnificent Gift of Agency; To Act and Not Be Acted Upon.”
Gary LawrenceJanuary 21, 2021
Were Alma and Amulek evil for pointing out the pride of the followers of Nehor?
Maryann TaylorJanuary 21, 2021
Perhaps one of the greatest evils of pride is labeling OTHERS as prideful. Worse yet is pointing it out in our conversations. Regardless of what we see or hear, the reading of another's heart should be left to the Lord. I like SPW's comment: "Let us always look at ourselves first before pointing fingers elsewhere." I would add to that--if we really feel the need to shine a spotlight on pride, let's use examples of our OWN pride, rather than someone else's. The only pride we need concern ourselves with is the pride in our own hearts.