One of the less obvious spiritual killer sins is pride. Pride can be very subtle, unlike theft, slander, murder, the form of adultery that David committed and many other sins. 
Some people in pride surely aren’t aware of it or its danger, for if they were they would change! To be proud is to have God against you, which means you are a sure guaranteed loser. It is much worse to be proud than to have the devil himself and all the demons opposing you since God is infinitely greater than them. Here is the warning to take to heart:
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5,6)
Those are not mere idle words about pride. God opposes the proud. Since we are saved by grace (Eph. 2:5,8), then one MUST be humble, and not proud, to get grace to be saved. So how does God oppose the proud? Here is the answer:
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Mat 11:25)
The context shows that God hides one’s vital need of repentance from them if they are proud, while he reveals such to the humble (or little children). Remember, in Jesus’ teaching (found in Luke 18:9-14), it wasn’t the proud pharisee, who looked down on everyone else, who prayed for mercy because of his sins and got it. It was the sincere and humble tax collector, who prayed to God for mercy and who got forgiven:
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God have mercy on me a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:13,14)
Pride and humility are contrasted there. Pride is the killer, while humility led to forgiveness and salvation. Don’t let pride blind your vital spiritual needs. Don’t let pride be your downfall. Humble yourself, as the sincere tax collector did. Pray as he did. It still works today. God bless you.
