Pride
Pride can be defined as exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one’s own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner. showing an offensive attitude of superiority : proceeding from or characterized by arrogance
Excessive pride diminishes self-awareness. Like an arrogant leader who’s always exaggerating his achievements to denigrate his rivals. Excessive pride is an exaggerated appreciation of oneself by devaluating others. Pride is when you condemn others to make yourself feel better.
At this point, I would like to point out that arrogance is not the same thing as having a high confidence level for being skilled at something.
Which are you; which am I, the Pharisee or the tax collector? Whose prayer is pleasing to God? Pride versus humility is probably the message of this parable. We know that pride is one of the seven deadlies but this Pharisee didn’t seem to get that.
He stood there telling God how wonderful he was, how many good deeds he had done, and best of all, how much better he was than everyone else! Somehow, I don’t think that God was impressed. The tax collector knew that he was considered a sinner, especially in the eyes of other Jews because he was working for the Romans. He probably had no idea how much God loved him.
Jesus turns the world of the Pharisees upside down by telling them that the prayer of the tax collector was more pleasing to God than that of the self-righteous Pharisee. I bet you know people – I know I do – who put others down in order to feel better about themselves; who judge others by the way they dress, where they live, how much money they have, if they have an accent, or a different color skin.
God is the only one who has the right to judge for he alone knows what is in people’s hearts. This Pharisee only sees the externals, and also judges himself by his “show” of goodness rather than goodness of spirit. The tax collector only wants God’s mercy, not approval.
He recognizes his failings and doesn’t even dare to ask for forgiveness, only mercy. What do we seek when we pray? Do we compare ourselves to others in our minds and find ourselves better than them? Or, do we recognize our faults and failings and beg God to make us better people? So, I’m back to the first question, am I a Pharisee or a tax collector?
Besides, pride inhibit one to build meaningful relationships with others. Pride is basically the opposite of humility. pride doesn’t provide you with anything in terms of long term benefits. In fact it takes good people away from your life, Just because you were arrogant to them.
