Commentary: Pride, the utmost evil

We are all proud at times, but we must learn to control it. We need to learn what God thinks and feels about pride”

C.S. Lewis called pride the utmost evil (Mere Christianity). He said pride leads to every other vice and is the complete anti-God state of mind. Pride has been the chief cause of so much misery in every nation and family since the great “fall” of man.

Pride engenders wars, thefts, murders, hatred, and all manner of evil. Pride is what got Lucifer kicked out of heaven to become the devil. He was proud and declared that he would be like “the most High” (Isaiah 14:14). This showed that he wanted to be God. Many men today have the same pride and ambition.

The Bible warns repeatedly against being proud. Proverbs 16:18 declares, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Another great proverb tells us, “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Proverbs 29:23).

These verses and Mr. Lewis were referring to the competitive form of pride, whereby one feels better than other people. This is one of the sins God hates most. As long as one is proud in this way, he cannot really know God. However, there is nothing wrong with taking pride in children or grandchildren, or even in a job well done. Of course, everything done and every thought should be dedicated to the glory of God.

We learn in psychology that everyone has a strong desire to be significant or even important. But this desire must be controlled, lest it lead to the evil form of pride. Someone has wisely said, “Humility (the opposite of pride) is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” People tend to dislike proud people, even when they are guilty of pride. Benjamin Franklin once wisely observed, “People dislike vanity in others, regardless of what share of it they themselves have.”

We are all proud at times, but we must learn to control it. We need to learn what God thinks and feels about pride. In Proverbs 18:12, He tells us, “Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.” I have often preached on the great importance of cultivating humility and the wonderful blessings and benefits of it. I have, in many sermons, stressed the great importance of humility and exactly why every Christian should attain it.

Humility and pride are opposites. Humility keeps a Christian from becoming too proud. When evil people trust their souls to Christ, they then see why John Newton wrote his famous and wonderful hymn, “Amazing Grace.” In his song, he called himself a “wretch.” He was right. But Christ opened his eyes to the truth about himself and the world. In the song, he said, “Was blind but now I see.”

Most people are blind to God’s Word, the Truth. They are also blind to their own unworthiness and evil nature. The Apostle Paul referred to our evil nature as our “old man.” Without disparaging ourselves, or anyone else, we need to remember that no one is really good on earth. Because of our old, sinful, proud nature, we were lost and destined for hell. But God loved His creation, including man. He sent His Son, even Himself, to earth to be born as a man and die for the sins of all who will trust in Him.

So, may all Christians put away pride, which God hates, and cultivate humility by “thinking of ourselves less.”

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Ralph Fudge is the pastor of Big Ochlocknee Baptist Church in Coolidge, Ga., and has a Master’s degree in theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.