Pride's Many Masks: Seven Varieties of Foolish Heart

When pride cometh, then cometh shame.—Proverbs 11:2

Pride puts on a great variety of appearances and is found in every rank and condition of human life. First, pride of station: the man in authority becomes "puffed up" with distinction, considering himself a being of higher order than his fellow sinners, looking with disdain upon those below him in society's scale. Yet Scripture reminds him that "man will not long abide in honour, seeing he may be compared to the beast that perisheth."

Second, pride of birth is equally unreasonable. Even heathen philosophers recognized its absurdity: what we have not done ourselves can scarcely be called ours.

Third, pride of riches. Reason itself declares that wealth cannot grant dignity of character, superiority of intellect, peace of conscience, or cheerfulness of heart—the chief blessings of life.

Fourth and fifth: pride of talent and learning ill become "man that is born of a woman." A disease or accident may overturn the mind entirely. Pride of beauty withers like grass and fading flowers.

Sixth, pride of judgment—too often the pride of the young and ignorant—contradicts observable truth: those who know least imagine they know most.

Yet worst of all is spiritual pride—the conceit of being holier than others. This pride strikes deepest at the human soul, masquerading as righteousness while Elohim abhors it.