People often see only the obvious display of misplaced pride in the form of arrogance—the attitude of people who think, speak and act on the belief that they are far superior than anybody else.
But in truth, there are other forms of misplaced pride, and people often fail to discern these things because they are cleverly disguised, according to Christian author and storyteller Shae Bynes.
In an article for Charisma News, Bynes says the "masks" of pride might come as a surprise to most people, but Christians need to be made aware of these so that their focus will not be on themselves but on Christ instead.
FamilyLife president Dennis Rainey agrees. He says in an article posted on their group's website that proud people either try to demand control and act stubborn. But more often than not, those filled with pride act snobbish, conceited, or cocky.
In whatever form pride shows up, both Bynes and Rainey believe that Christians need to overcome it with humility. Showing misplaced pride actually tells people that you do not need God.
Rainey assures people that true happiness will come once they are willing to humble themselves before God and do what He wills in their lives.
"The process may be painful, but it also brings real joy," he says.
Bynes then describes five forms of misplaced pride in disguise:
1. Being timid
"Have you ever decided not to speak up about something that you felt led to speak up about?" she asks. "I've been there. Most likely, it was due to fear, but the reason for the fear is often concern over how you will be perceived by others when you speak up."
Bynes says that Scripture encourages people to be strong and courageous, and their pride must never be a hindrance to doing the right thing.
2. Putting things off
"A surprising form of pride is procrastination," Bynes writes. "When we are putting things off, it's often due to feelings surrounding the task at hand, and we're allowing those feelings to govern our motivation to take action even when things are urgent."
3. Faking It
People often put up a good face in front of their peers even though they are crumbling up on the inside. Bynes says there is nothing wrong with keeping certain aspects of one's life private, but she argues that "there are people in our lives that we can and should be real with."
4. Refusing help
Independence is a good thing, because this means people are capable of doing things themselves and without any help. However, Bynes says that nobody is perfect, and people should not be afraid to admit if there are some things they need help with.
"Don't allow a bad experience to create a spirit of independence that says, 'I don't need help from anyone' or 'I can do this myself,' even when help is needed — both in personal and professional life," she says.
5. Preoccupation with self
People sometimes get so caught up with their personal agenda that they fail to see the things that God is trying to show them, says Bynes. "By being less busy and distracted, we can remain more Christ-focused and aware of what He's doing," she says.
