I have heard it said that there is really only one sin, and that is the sin of Pride. All others sins result from this one. Pride is the desire to satisfy our self-centered focus above all other things.

There is a difference between the pride of feeling good for accomplishing something, or the pride in the success of our friends and loved ones and Pride of superiority. The problem occurs when, like many good things, the pride it is distorted and becomes above everything including God.

Pride was the cause of Satan’s fall. He was originally one of the angels, Lucifer, star of the morning. Isaiah 12:13 says about him, “You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God” Ezekiel 28:17 writes about Satan, “Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor.”

We rationalize our sins when we put our love of ourselves, our pride, above God. “I want this or that,” gives us the reason, for greed, envy, lust, hate, etc.. Psalm 10:4 writes, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

I believe the antidote to this sinful pride is gratitude, or thankfulness. It is very difficult to be self-absorbed and be truly thankful at the same time; Particularly, we need to be thankful to God for all he has given us.

Dear Lord, everything good that we have comes from you. Help us remember to give our thanks to you for our success, intelligence, health, strength, family, friends and all good things, and protect us from the devils lure toward sinful pride. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.