Conceit is a many-headed monster.  It shows itself in all sorts of guises, which all start from false ideas about ourselves - believing that we are cleverer, more attractive, wiser, more knowledgeable and generally morally better than we are in our private life.  Conceit is self-flattery which exceeds the reality of who we are (Isaiah 16:6).  It is based on a fantasy of who we would like to be.  Conceit lifts us up and pushes others down.  It is often accompanied by a narcissistic urge to taunt others about their inferiority, at the same time as we secretly envy what they do and who they are.

This unreal view of ourselves is all part of our sin-problem (Psalm 36:1-4).  Instead of humbly seeing ourselves as vulnerable sinners through the lens of God’s Word, we proudly project our imaginary self-glorifying image on others.  It makes real relationship impossible. How can anyone relate with an illusion, except if everybody is playing a social game.  It should not be like that in the family of God, especially as conceited people often belittle and defame their brothers and sisters (Romans 12:16).
 
Church-goers whose security is not rooted in Christ are a liability to the gospel and a danger to themselves (Matthew 7:26-27).  They rely on the exaggeration of their own good works or their superior wisdom to feel good about themselves - instead of relying on God’s love (Luke 18:9-14).  They believe that they can fool other people.  They are deluded: but they are also dangerous because they may stimulate a cascade of competitive self-righteousness which leaves others disillusioned (when they fail in their attempts) and defaces the message of salvation.
 
That kind of pride easily hides away in most believers, just waiting for an opportunity to prove that they are better than others, while feeling a little uncomfortable that the claim may be hollow.  We need this verse to see that the faults, which we point out in others, are in us as well; and are potentially very destructive.  This is not the fruit of the Spirit, but the evidence of our sinful nature.  Let us repent of it, recognising that we have formed habits which perpetuate the problem without us even having to think about it.  Instead, we need to form godly habits, especially in the way we think about ourselves and others. Philippians 2:3 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves".  Let’s practise that today!