Most of our lives we hear that you must have pride in everything you do.

Years ago, I read a book titled “Born Again,” written by Chuck Colson.

He spent some time in prison because of his part in the Watergate Coverup that caused President Richard Nixon to resign from office.

In this book, Mr. Colson stated, “There is one vice of which no man in the world is free, which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else, and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves.”

The vice he referred to was pride, which he said leads to every other vice and is the complete anti-God state of mind.

When speaking to groups, I occasionally speak of the seven deadly sins of which pride is one.

A few years ago, at a drug rehabilitation center, I quoted Mr. Colson’s statement referring to pride.

When one drug addict disagreed with me, my pride flared up. I said, “Why don’t you just let me finish my talk?”

He again challenged me and said, “I don’t care what you say. I think pride is good!”

I was angry and about to blow it when one of the other clients said, “Mr. Keller, pride is OK if you give God the credit for whatever you do.”

Since then, I’ve been reminded many times what Jesus says in John, Chapter 15, verse 5: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

According to Mr. Colson, and I agree, “Pride has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began. It is a spiritual cancer.

“It eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.”

The opposite of pride is humility.

I often have to be reminded of what God’s Word says in Philippians, Chapter 2, verses 3 and 4: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness (humility) of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

If humility is the secret to greatness, don’t let pride interfere with God’s plan for your life.

If you have any questions or comments, please write Harold Keller at Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or email hkeller@comcast.net.