What is Pride?

I had the privilege of speaking to a local high school wrestling team today on the subject of "pride".  It is impressive that the coaching staff takes time to speak about and focus on a different character attribute each week.

Pride is an interesting conundrum.  In America today, "pride" has a positive connotation.  "Take pride in yourself."  "Have high self-esteem," we say.  If you go to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, however, the first definition for pride is actually "the quality or state of being proud: inordinate self-esteem: CONCEIT."  Up until the 1900's, pride was not a good thing.  That is, someone who was proud was considered to be a conceited, arrogant, self-righteous, cocky [filtered word] with jacked up self-esteem.

The next definition given, though, is the one that we are usually referring to when we say, "Have some pride."  Webster states it like this:  a reasonable or justifiable self-respect.  Someone who has pride has confidence in themselves because they have a reasonable respect for themselves.

Pride is like a spaghetti dinner.  We usually think of spaghetti as a meal with a fair amount of carbs (especially good for endurance athletes) and protein; a meal good for the body.  However, if I eat so much I puke, then it's not so healthy anymore.  Likewise, a little too much pride is not good for me.  Furthermore, too much pride will make those around us want to puke as well.  We all disdain cocky people.  They make us sick.  There is a fine line between self-respecting confidence and inflated self-esteem.

From an athletic competition standpoint, justifiable self-respect is directly proportional to our efforts in training.  The harder we train, the more confident we become, and the more we believe we can win.  We have pride in ourselves.  Additionally, an athlete with the right amount of pride takes care of business with class and treats his opponent with respect, win or lose.  In doing this, he/she shows respect for him/herself.  That person is comfortable with who they are, is not out for the approval of people, and is characterized by humility and service to others.

On the other hand, an athlete with too much pride is consumed by what other people think.  Wins and losses result in displays to get attention, and he is actually uncomfortable with who he is as a person.  Self-esteem is low and attention is needed.  These people are fakes.  They are the exact opposite of what they portray.  Someone who has an inflated self-esteem is out for popularity and self-importance.  

The Bible says that "pride goes before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18).  In other words, have a little too much pride and the fall is coming.

Lucifer was kicked out of heaven because of pride.  He wanted to be worshiped as God.  Esteeming himself higher than he should have got him booted from the presence of God and to the earth.  On earth with a new name, Satan, he tempted Adam and Eve to go their own way and attempt to become their own gods.  They committed the first human sin, and it was all due to too much pride.  Is this is a serious issue?

It got them kicked out of the garden of Eden and every man, woman, boy, and girl born since has had the root of pride in their heart.  All of us, at some levels, want to be our own god.  We want to be independent of God and run our own lives.  It's the great human problem and has led to immense wickedness in the world...not to mention my own life.

Pride is an intense topic.  The right amount of pride gives us respect for the fact that we were made in the image of God.  As a result, we respect ourselves and others.  We have a justifiable self-respect.  Too much pride and we think we own ourselves, others, and the world.  In the end, it kills us and makes those around us sick.

May we have a humble self-respect that puts God first and those around us next.