Pride

Pride can be a terrible thing. It destroys friendships, breaks up families, and causes strife between people and even cause’s people and countries to go to war with each other. Pride has been known to breaks up villages and towns and even churches into various factions. Pride can over power a person's sense of right?

In the Bible book of Proverbs, chapter 13 verse 10 it says “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom”. Webster’s Dictionary describes contention as “A contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement.” This statement says to me that if a person says something that is taken by another person as being contentious, a problem will be generated, and the problem is often just misunderstanding. The person may not have intended to express a contentious attitude but the other person took it that way, and this is where both people have to get together and sort things out.

If an apology is in order, then it must be made, even if one of the two people doesn’t believe that one is necessary, the other one does. What does it take for a person to apologize even if they believe they did nothing wrong? Just few words! Just a few words, that melts away the problem and sets things right. Or the individuals involve need to talk so that the misunderstanding can be resolved once and for all. Both individuals must be willing to do this whether an apology is made or not. The friendship has been saved and everyone is happy.

However, some people do live by their pride, and takes everything that happens in their life all wrong. They may not see it that way, but that is the way things are for them. We are not to judge others, but to always give others the benefit of any doubt. Prideful people have to eventually come to terms with their problem, and change their way of thinking so that they don’t suffer the consequences, which can mean being an outcast in midst of a crowd.

I have known several people in my life that have been so prideful that they find fault with every one they come in contact with. These people, when we first meet them, are some of the most delightful people you could ever meet, and then look out, they find all your faults and make sure that everyone else who know you and them learn of your faults. I always ask why. I really don’t understand people like these, except, maybe they are here to point out our faults and push us to make changes that we need to make.

A little pride is important in us for it gives us pride in a job well done, especially to perform at our jobs with the highest degree of perfection. This makes for a company product that makes sales and keeps us working. So there is nothing wrong in having pride in a job well done.

There are many people who give of their time, money and talents to help other people in what ever capacity that they believe they are needed. Pride when used properly can make the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, sloppy and perfect, etc. Pride is described as:

• A feeling of self-respect and personal worth [A good thing]
• Satisfaction with your (or another's) achievements
• They seem to have a trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below their standards
• Unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem

What is a person to do?

I suggest that the person:

• Take a minute to think about your relationship to others and what it has done for your friendships(s)
• take a minute and think about your and their way of thinking try to look at other people with a little respect
• try to over look other people’s short comings
• try to see the good in everything and every body
• be ready to apologize for any kind of misunderstanding whether real or imaginary; whether on your part or the part of the other person
• And forgive your self and the other person
• When told that you are wrong, think about it and be ready to make things right, whether you believe it or not


Pride does not have to destroy friendships, breaks up families, and causes strife between people and even cause’s people and countries to go to war with each other. Pride doesn’t have to breaks up villages and towns and even churches into various factions. Pride, proper expressed, is a good thing.