Pride can be the result of many factors: nationalism, racism, class and caste distinction, and education, wealth, prestige and power. In one way or another, pride can easily enter us without us noticing and corrupting our personality.
Pride is also defined as "self-love, esteem and respect towards oneself" (Salamanca Dictionary of the Spanish language). Having self-love involves worrying about what other people think of you. We care about our appearance and reputation. There is a Castilian saying that says: "Tell me who you are with and I will tell you who you are". If we prefer to relate to sloths, lazy, ordinary and foul-mouthed, we will become like them. We will adopt their attitudes and, like them, we will lose self-love.
Throughout Scripture, we are told about the consequences of pride. Proverbs 16: 18-19 tells us that, "Pride is before destruction, and haughtiness before the fall. It is better to humble the spirit with the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud. "Satan was cast out of heaven because of his pride (Isaiah 14: 12-15). He had the selfish audacity to try to replace God Himself as the legitimate ruler of the universe. But Satan will be thrown into the pit of hell in the final judgment of God. For those who rise up defiant against God, nothing but disaster awaits them, "For I will rise up against them, says the LORD of hosts, and will cut off from Babylon the name and the remnant, son and grandson, says the Lord." (Isaiah 14:22)
Pride has prevented many people from accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Refusing to admit sin and recognizing that in our own strength we can do nothing to inherit eternal life, has been a stumbling block for proud people. We must not boast of ourselves, but if we want to glorify something, then we must proclaim the glories of God. What we say about ourselves does not mean anything in the work of God. It is what God says about us, what makes the difference (2 Corinthians 10:13).
Why is pride such a big sin? Pride is giving ourselves credit for something God has done. Pride takes the glory that belongs only to God and gives it to ourselves. Pride is essentially self-worship. Anything we would have done in this world would not have been possible if God had not allowed us to do it. That is why we give glory to God - because only He deserves it.
The proud, on the other hand, are so blinded by their arrogance, that they think they have no need of God or even worse, that God must accept them as they are, because they deserve to be accepted.
Throughout Scripture, we are told about the consequences of pride. Proverbs 16: 18-19 tells us that, "Pride is before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall: it is better to humble the spirit with the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud." Satan was cast out of heaven because of his pride (Isaiah 14: 12-15). He had the selfish audacity to try to replace God Himself as the legitimate ruler of the universe. But Satan will be thrown into the pit of hell in the final judgment of God. In the same way, for those who rise up defiant against God, nothing but disaster awaits them, "For I will rise up against them, says the LORD of hosts, and I will cut off from Babylon the name and the remnant, son and grandson. says the LORD. " (Isaiah 14:22)
Refusing to admit sin or justify it as well as wanting to recognize that we have achieved this or that goal by our own worth will not live and inherit eternal life. Pride has been a stumbling block for proud people. We should not feel superior to ourselves, but if we want to glorify something, then we must proclaim the excellence God the Father. What we say about ourselves does not mean anything in the work of God. It is what God says about us, what makes the difference. "We should not boast more than we should." We will limit ourselves to the field that God has assigned us according to his measure, in which you are also included "(2Cor 10:13).
Why is pride such a big sin? Very simple, it is because pride is giving ourselves credit for something that God has done in us or for us. Pride takes the glory that belongs only to God and gives it to ourselves. Pride is essentially self-worship. Anything we would have done in this world would not have been possible if God had not allowed us to do it. For this reason we give the Glory and we raise Praises to God because He alone deserves it.
The wise man is free when he obeys God:
The principle of wisdom is the fear of God says Solomon: "The wise of heart shall receive the commandments ..." Prov. 10: 8. This means that a truly wise man will observe the precepts of God to fulfill them, not to disrespect them! The wise man turns away from evil so as not to offend God. It departs from pride. That is why David exclaimed: "I will meditate on your commandments, I will consider your ways, I will rejoice in your statutes, I will not forget your words" Ps 119: 15-16.
Not recognizing that it is God is the one that has given you certain capacities, that has blessed you, it is simply denying the power of God in your life.