When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)
When I was a child, my mother was a great one for quotations. One of her favorites was, “Pride goeth before a fall.” Whenever I was proud of a good grace, a new dress or a ballet accomplishment, she repeated it to me. It was very hard, as a child, to understand the problems associated with pride and the beauty of humility. Now, as an adult, it is a bit easier to understand.
None of us likes people who are prideful. We do not enjoy listening to their achievements and hearing time and time again how wonderful talented, beautiful, wealthy or popular they are. Whether there is any truth in it or not, it does not a loving person make.
Yet humility is a virtue that can be learned and, with humility, often wisdom does come. Many of us are familiar with the words: None is as brave as he who stoops to conquer. How true this is! Sometimes the greatest acts are most significant if we stoop in humility.
Today’s verse is in a section of Proverbs believed by biblical scholars and commentators, to be from Solomon. This large section contains 375 of Solomon’s individual proverbs. They are in no apparent order, with only occasional grouping by subject, and are often without a context to quality their application.
Further study shows that the word pride is from a root meaning to boil or to run over, indicating an overwhelming arrogant attitude or behavior. It is used again of ordinary men in Deuteronomy, of kings in Nebuchadnezzar, of false prophets in Deuteronomy, and even of murderers in Exodus. This powerful phrase also appears in Micah: Walk humbly with your God.
This humble and teachable spirit is, first of all, directed toward God. Humility was the way of the disciples and the way of Jesus. Let it be our way as well, teaching us always to live with humility so that we might gain wisdom of the ways of God the Holy Spirit. Help us, ever, to not be prideful but to trust in the grace of God to grant us humility.
References: The People’s New Testament Commentary by M. Eugene Boring and Fred B. Craddock and The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur.
Columbia Prayer Chain: Friday, January 11
In our prayers: Jennifer Williams, Betty Jo Carson, Gary Davis, Eddie Bolton, Myrna, Esther, Pam James, Doug and Sharon, John Kelchner, Elizabeth Matthews, Nedrick Griffin, Jennifer Handy, Nancy Stuckey, Annemarie Sullivan, Rachel and Randy Wurtzbaugh, Patty Peckham, Denise Byrd, Greg and Lisa Steele, Dean Timothy Jones, Linda Langford, Marty Fritz, Harriet Hancock, Tommy and Robby Palmer, Patty and Ted Mac Laughlin, Janet Long, Bobby Wilson, Debbie and Pat Barry, Betty Jo Sullivan, Mary Francis Harris, Patrick and Patricia Barry, Jordan Hill, Doris Clevenger, Charles Sigel, Bob Davis, John Whatley, Nancy Zuckerman, Charles Davis Sr., Bill Carter, Betty Peavy Frick, Joye Cantrell, Fred and Gail, Dale and Norma Sessions, Padge Arrington, Jerry Callahan, Norman Masters
In memoriam: Cheryl Whitehead Berry, Beulah Bailey Gatch, Madeleine Angone Lott, William Dixon Cliett, Evelyn Taylor Laird, Ronald “Shot” Justice, James Watkins Martin, Heyward M. Monts, Rick Lawrence Olson Jr., Mary Johnson Schumpert, Mahalia Johnson Stevens, Neville Samuel John Poots, Virginia Anne Buckner Singletary, Nicholas Thomas "Tommy” Vardas
Our prayers are with: the elderly, the homeless, all currently fighting illness, all beloved pets, our president and congress, our police officers and firefighters, all who serve in the armed forces
Columbia Prayer Chain is open to all residents of greater Columbia who would like to share prayers and receive the prayers of others. Please leave your name in the comment box below or email me to join our Prayer Chain. It is updated daily.
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