“Pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.”
In Greek mythology, Hubris and Nemesis were fated to follow each other. Hubris is overconfidence, “exaggerated pride” that emboldens men to rebel against the gods. On the other hand, “Nemesis is the goddess of retribution and denotes the destruction, suffering or punishment that can follow in the wake of hubris.”
Pride is what made Satan who and what he is. That’s why pride is at the root of what is despicable and evil.
One of man’s most desperate laments is why God allows evil people to thrive and survive. Worse, why does God allow cruel, ruthless people to have long lives, unlimited power and wealth — while the good, honest and upright are oppressed; left with rag-tag resources, inferior abilities, weak machineries that cannot topple down the rich, evil and powerful? It seems like the more despicable a tyrant is, the more entrenched he becomes.
If God is all-just and all-powerful, why does He allow evil people to thrive in our world? It’s an ancient question, as ancient as evil itself. But it has an answer that will prove satisfying in the end.
Here are some of the famous quotes we’ve heard about pride:
“Pride goeth before a fall…
The higher you go, the harder you fall… Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.” Even the literary icon e.e cummings wrote a poem about pride and the downfall it causes.
The Bible is more explicit:
“Pride goes before destruction; a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
“When pride comes then comes disgrace, but with the humble comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11: 12
“The Lord detests all the proud of heart; be sure they will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:5
And the scariest one of all:
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
C.S. Lewis said that if your opponent is God, then of course, you have zero chances of winning (my paraphrase). That’s why proud people always lose, in the end. It’s just a matter of time.
That’s why, when we see the slow or sudden downfall of a despot, a corrupt official, a pervert, an abuser, a narcissist, your neighborhood thug — the equation is the same. Once you oppose God, you’ll never win. Your downfall will be more excruciating, more gruesome, than you can ever imagine.
Part of the madness that unbridled greed, evil, and cruelty brings is that it makes a person think that he is invincible — that no one, nothing, can put an end to all his power, wealth and control. It’s this arrogance that drives them insane.
I believe one of the first things God removes from a proud person is wisdom, discernment, the ability to make sound evaluations and decisions. Complacency breeds carelessness. When one thinks one is invincible, that’s when mistakes happen.
The next thing God probably removes is power, authority, and good health. Power quickly evaporates when others see the first signs weakness, sickness, helplessness, and disgrace. There might be a feeble attempt at bravado, but this quickly dissipates.
Wealth may be preserved, or cleverly hidden — but definitely, definitely, the ability to enjoy wealth will be taken away by God. Of what use is wealth without peace of mind, pleasure and contentment? It’s like eating the most delectable dish in the world — with dead taste buds.
The worst kind of suffering for those who are deposed, exiled and isolated by God is probably the sense of utter helplessness. Emptiness. Loneliness.
While it’s lonely at the top, it must be much, much lonelier at the bottom.
What then should we do so that we don’t fall into the bottomless pit of pride? Here’s what we are commanded to do, for our own good and protection:
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time, He will lift you up in honor.”
(1 Peter 5: 6)
Humble yourself before God. Don’t wait for Him to humble you.
