Have a Problem with Pride? Of Course Not!

Last night I was reading my Bible before bed, the only time I can have a true "quiet" time, and came across a verse I'd read many time before. It's in Isaiah 10, verse 12.

When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, "I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes." (NIV)

Willful pride: how is that different from regular pride? Isn't all pride a sin of the will?

Maybe not. Pride in and of itself is not a bad thing. We can be proud of our children's performances or acts of kindness, proud of our own perseverance and results. I'm thinking that pride turns into a negative emotion when we fail to give credit where credit is due.

The king of Assyria took personal credit for all of his successes, for his expanding nation. Isaiah questions, "Does an ax take over from the one who swings it? Does a saw act more important than the sawyer? As if a shovel did its shoveling by using a ditch digger! As if a hammer used the carpenter to pound nails!" (The Message)

Pride is a normal emotion. God looked around each day after creating, and said that it was good. He took pride in His work. We are made in His image and like to create things to, be it novels, art projects, proposals, gardens, football plays, etc... But when we start to think our beautiful creations come from our massive intellect or awesome skills, and fail to thank our Lord ...

That's when the pride becomes willfull.

What do you think? Ever pondered the good and the bad of pride?