Pride and a Haughty Spirit

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

It is a scripture with which most of us are familiar. Often it is shortened to "Pride goeth before a fall." Either way, it is a volume of wisdom expressed in a short sentence.

In reading Alma 39, again, I found a verse to which I had not paid much attention, before. The chapter concerns Corianton's leaving the ministry, going after a charming harlot, setting a bad example for the people who then cannot believe Alma, and Alma's invitation to him to listen to counsel from and follow the example of his older brothers.

What I had missed was the verse that describes the root of Corianton's fall from a powerful missionary to an adulterer.

It is found in verse 2. "... Now this is what I have against thee; thou didst go on  unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom."

C. S. Lewis in his Screwtape Letters has the demon Screwtape instructing his student imp. In one case, the imp explains that he is getting nowhere with his "patient" because of his humility. With humility, comes a heart willing to hear and obey God.

"I see only one thing to do at the moment. Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact? All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is especially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, “By jove! I’m being humble”, and almost immediately pride—pride at his own humility—will appear. "

Obviously, Corianton had wisdom, strength and abilities to influence others. At first, he was a powerful missionary. At some point, he began to feel that it was all him; that is, he forgot that these were gifts that should be nourished and strengthened by humbly receiving counsel. Having focused on himself and his personal strength and wisdom, his pride led him to believe that his superiority exceeded the wisdom of his father and brothers. In fact, it exceeded what they taught and he, like so many others before and since, thought he was being a spiritual pioneer when, in fact, he was simply heading for destruction.

We get the feeling in reading the chapters dedicated to him that he had hit bottom, was prepared to humble himself and repent. Alma lets him know it will not be easy because Alma had to rehearse all the sinful acts and "harrow up" those difficult feelings. (v. 7) Also, Corianton would have to return to the Zoramites and admit his folly. (v. 13)

It is an easy trap to fall into. There is some emotional reward when we recognize that we have done a good thing, become a person of some repute, accomplished some spiritual feat or that we have gifts not possessed by others. It is a good thing to know, when it leads to gratitude. If it turns to pride, we are in danger. It requires vigilance.