Two vowels and 3 consonants, of course that adds up to 5 letters. But the 5 I am talking about form a word that has plagued mankind for over 6,000 years. I think it is safe to say that nearly every bad decision and, consequently, sin can be attributed to this one word. What one word could it be? I’ll do a little more dawdling and give you time to guess.

As humans, being created in God’s image, we are able to make choices based on something other than instinct. We have the ability to think, to use logic. There is a problem that can come from this, and does because of our fallen state. Logic is not always objective, it can be severely relative. For example, let’s say I am hungry. On the table, there is a bag of potato chips. Using logic, they are considered edible, and I want something to eat, so they are the perfect match. Here is the problem: chips are made from food, but in that state, they aren’t the type of food I need. If I am hungry to the point that my stomach is growling, I am going to need something that has more than empty calories.

But, I made that choice logically, so why would it be wrong? Because I made the decision based on my wants and desires, not my needs and what is best. That comes under the heading of the word I mentioned, P-R-I-D-E. The dictionary defines it as a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc. I describe as “I am an expert on whatever I choose to be an expert on at any given time.”

Try this, look back at the bad things you have done in the past. Be completely honest with yourself. What led up to them? I maintain that it was pride. Whether you knew it was wrong or not, pride told you that you knew it was best, it was what you wanted, so it was OK. Twice in the Bible (Proverbs 11:2 and Proverbs 16:18), we are told that pride leads to trouble, yet we so often welcome it in, like an old friend that we haven’t seen in years.

Pride is that whisper in your ear that you can take care of it, when we should be listening to the small still voice saying, “I’ve got this one,” (Matthew 11:28-30).