With growth and prosperity comes a superior attitude. Along with this vanity comes a heartless aloofness to the crying needs of other peoples. It isn't long before proud nations take cruel action against the dissidents within the nation or against other less powerful nations. Such sinful actions call for God's judgment. The humiliating fall of the proud nation may be somewhat delayed because of God's patience and long-suffering, but it does come.
History is filled with illustrations.
The rise and fall of the Third Reich is only one obvious example. Let us pray that we would be preserved from reaching the point of no return. The way of pride takes the same course in individuals as in nations. Words and actions that hurt other people go hand in hand with a superior attitude. Secret gloating over rivals when they blow it or suffer a setback is a step in the direction of cruelty.