Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing. The central feature of pride is enmity - enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen.
Interpretation
Pride is more than just negative traits; it fundamentally involves a sense of hostility towards God and others.
In this quote, Ezra Taft Benson highlights that while pride is often associated with negative attributes like arrogance and boastfulness, its deeper essence lies in enmity. This hostility can manifest as a disconnection from God and a lack of consideration for others, indicating that pride is a more profound and damaging issue within human relationships and spirituality.
In practice
In a sermon about humility, the pastor can use this quote to illustrate the dangers of pride.
Humility responds to God's will-to the fear of His judgments and to the needs of those around us. To the proud, the applause of the world rings in their ears; to the humble, the applause of heaven warms their hearts. Someone has said, "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man."
Physical well-being is not only a priceless asset to oneself-it is a heritage to be passed on. With good health, all other activities of life are greatly enhanced. A clean mind in a healthy body enables one to render far more effective service to others. It helps one provide more vigorous leadership. It gives our every experience in life more zest and more meaning. Robust health is a noble and worthwhile attainment.
If you really want to receive joy and happiness, then serve others with all your heart. Lift their burden, and your own burden will be lighter.
Our parents deserve our honor and respect for giving us life itself. Beyond this they almost always made countless sacrifices as they cared for and nurtured us through our infancy and childhood, provided us with the necessities of life, and nursed us through physical illnesses and the emotional stresses of growing up.
We are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth.
Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand.
If there's one thing that really annoys a god, it's not knowing something.
It is never the thing but the version of the thing.
The control of the production of wealth is the control of human life itself.
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
Wherever people feel safe β they will be indifferent.
Speech is for the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout.
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