Characteristics Of Pride

The wise man had a lot to say about pride. “…Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate” (8:13), “When pride comes, disgrace follows…” (11:12), “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  (Prov. 16:18), “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud…” (18:12), “A man’s pride will bring him low…” (29:23). It should be obvious that pride is a destructive character attribute. John called it the  “pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”  (1 John 2:16). Jesus told His disciples that what “comes out of a man, that defiles a man…from within, out of the heart of men”, and included pride concluding with verse 23, “All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:20-23). In this lesson from James describes three characteristics of pride namely, Speaking Evil “of one another” and “the law”, 2. Putting yourself in the place of the Only One Lawgiver “Judge”, and 3. The Pride of Control. Once the child of God can recognize them they can expel them. James ends with,  “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).