What is the Sin of Pride?

   In Proverbs 6:16-19 are listed the seven things that God hates…..“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” 

   The very first thing on God’s most hated list is the sin of Pride. In our world today it doesn’t take long to realize just how prideful our culture is. Bragging rights, bragging rights, everybody seems to want bragging rights….whether it is the biggest house, the car with the most gadgets , the latest fashions, or the winningest sports team, everyone seems to want to be top dog in something… that prideful spirit permeates this world, but it also creeps into our churches.

   That kind of desire to be first is also called pride, and God has something to say to those who have too much of it. In Jesus’ day there was a group of reee-ligious high muckety mucks called Pharisees. They were the kind-a folks who figgered that the only reason the sun came up was just to hear them crow. They wanted to be looked at and treated as though they were one step closer to God than anyone else.  And just like some folks today, the Pharisees wanted others to see them as being far better than everyone else… ...