CHRISTIANS -- -- Do you ever congratulate yourself on a job well done, or is that too prideful? (continued...)

Question

During a conversation today with a friend of mine, I was reminded of the final line from "The Devil's Advocate" -

"Vanity... DEFINITELY my favorite sin".

This is a genuine question born of curiosity. I want to know what Christians consider prideful, how they deal with pride in themselves, etc.

Do you acknowledge your skill and success when you've expertly solved a problem or completed a task? Do you enjoy the spoils of all your hard work? Do you agree when people compliment you? Do you ever strive to be especially attractive?

How do you determine what's prideful and what isn't (and are there gray areas)? What do you do when you feel you're too prideful? How do you avoid pride?

Justin, c'mon... are you so jaded that you can't believe a person like me would simply be curious?

Answer 1

I love Keanu Reeves, too. And Al Pacino. And Charlize Theron was soooo good, too! Ever see Sweet November?

There's a bit of a difference between self-esteem and pride. Self-esteem has a humility about it, a sense of humour about one's self, while pride looks down on others to build the self up. There is no love involved. Self-esteem asks "What can I contribute?" while pride says "What's in it for me?"

Looking especially attractive is different than pride. Consider the other sins, like sloth and gluttony. A fear of pride might make you fall into those sins. Taking care of your body and keeping clean and healthy are good for the soul, too.

Success and hard work are admirable qualities, but pride can definitely detract from those fruits. A "No one is better than me" attitude can result in feeling threatened and uneasy when someone more successful appears. This can lead to envy, another sin, or inspire envy in others. Keeping the ego in check is a difficult task.

Accepting a compliment gracefully respects another person's opinion.

I think it is mostly about balance, as with most other religions. Most other religions strive to avoid the seven deadly, too. It does take work, no matter what walk of life, but no one said it was easy, either.

Answer 2

When I'm complimented, I say thank you. That's all that's really required. When I complete a task, whether it involved brains, brawn, or both, I have a sense of satisfaction. I don't know that I run around saying "Hey, look at me." As far as trying to be especially attractive, I do wear make-up about 60% of the time. I don't do a lot with my hair, but it's so curly all I can really do is just let it go. What I think is prideful and vain is when people say they are better than someone for whatever reason. I think it's the ultimate in vanity for someone to say, "Don't I look good today" or " I was able to figure it out because I'm so smart." There is nothing wrong with trying to do your best, having a sense of accomplishment, and accepting compliments. It's when you start complimenting yourself to others that pride and vanity come in.

Answer 3

I take pride in what I do, but that does not mean that I am boastful to others about what I have. I also try to give back to those in need as a sign of gratitude. The book of Ecclesiastes touches on this very subject. We are to enjoy the fruit of our labors because in the end life is nothing but vanity.

Answer 4

Yes, sure I do. When I don't eat what I shouldn't (I'm trying to lose weight) I say, "good for you!". When I work out for an hour on the treadmill, I say, yay Janie. That's about it.

Since I'm better at kicking myself for doing what isn't right, I don't think a small pat on the back is really pride, it's just congratulating myself for doing what is the right thing to do...always a struggle for me by the way!

I pray for God to forgive me of pride and remove it from me and to convict me when I exhibit pride. And not just once, it's an ongoing thing.

Answer 5

Until God opened my eyes, I used to think everything I did was of myself. Now I see that even the next word I type was predestined by Him before the foundations of the world.

Even when I make plans, I am careful to add, Lord willing. Now I know all is in His hands, and give Him praise, honor, and glory for all He bestows upon me, both what we as mere mortals consider good and bad. The latter being a correction from Him, which is just as praise worthy as the former.

Gods will, not mine, be done. Amen.

Answer 6

well i do... It goes something like this: "damn right i slayed it". I do not like to tell other ppl that but i do realise if i do something good. And about the whole work hard thing i believe in this phylosophy: "work hard party hard". I do take some lazy days and i do buy expensive things. 70$ steak for example, and i dont see anything wrong with it. It definately worth it! And the pride does get on the way but you just got to tell your self that its stupid sometimes and step down.
p.s whats with you and christians????

Answer 7

I do, actually. I've made a ton of progress from where I was not so long ago. I still have a ways to go, but at times yeah, I just stop and congratulate myself on working to get my life back on track. =)

Answer 8

In Catholicism,pride is defined as ascribing to yourself virtues that are in fact merely imparted to you by God as a measure of His grace. All glory and honor is to Him,as we are fond of saying. However,that is on the sacred plane of reality. On the mundane (or "profane" - the term is dated and now has different associations) level,we are of course permitted to congratulate ourselves on a job well-done; that is simply healthy and positive. But we do not forget that whatever we do that is good we do as creatures made in God's image. All human goodness proceeds from the divine rather than the base aspect of the human psyche and soul. Pride can mean an exaggerated self-appraisal,a tendency to brag,or an unwillingness to accept that the good we do as individuals is really a manifestation of God's goodness operating through us as His children.

Answer 9

Yes, I congratulate myself, but I don't let it go to my head.
Pride goes before a fall.
There will always be someone better than I am, and even if I do a good job, there is always room for improvement.


P.S. I loved that movie! Al Pacino was a terrific Satan.
Handsome, yet deadly...a vile man.

Answer 10

I take delight in something I do well, but I am not prideful or boastful about it. I know full well, there are people out there that could have done it better....there always is...