Concerningpride, Christian author and apologist C. S. Lewis wrote the following:“The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison.” This truth about pride is a matter of agreement among Christian thinkers—pride nourishes the roots of sin. Mankind has struggled with its ravages since Adam and Eve.

Today we find a lesson in Uzziah. This king inherited the throne as a youth of 16 and enjoyed God’s favor for most of the next 40 years; however, asCrosswalkcontributor David Sanford explains, Uzziah’s life unraveled because he “lost sight of God as the true king.” Uzziah dared to exalt himself, and in that self-exaltation usurped a sacrificial function in violation of God’s command. In consequence, God judged Uzziah’s arrogance with a ghastly affliction. Leprosy deprived the king of his throne, his health, and his dignity. The once-almighty died alone, disfigured, ostracized and abandoned.

What do we in the Christian era take from Uzziah? None of us have royal power, influence or authority. We are unlikely to fall as spectacularly as he did. Nevertheless, our nature wrestles with the same “me first” impulse that created his trouble. Our trouble may not be epic, but its consequence is just as destructive. Unchecked pride separates us from God’s holiness in its unholy process.

For dealing with pride, we find again the home-spun wisdom of C. S. Lewis offers a surprising and practical suggestion. Lewis advised, “Yes, pride is a perpetual nagging temptation. Keep on knocking it on the head, but don't be too worried about it. As long as one knows one is proud, one is safe from the worst form of pride.”

What irony! Lewis reminds us that we will ever struggle with imperfection. And at the very moment we lower our guard against pride’s wily ever-presence, we will give pride an opening—it will surge through the breach.

But we needn’t be overwhelmed. Rather, with Holy Spirit comfort, let us confess and own pride as our means to subdue it . . . lest we becomeitsproperty.