Humility Serves, Pride Destroys

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Proverbs 11:2

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

This Proverb seems so self-evident that I am having a tough time coming up with a way of expounding on it.  So what I have done is look up the verses that are referenced with it. (Concordia Reference Bible, NIV 1984)

Proverbs 16:18

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 18:12

Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 29:23

A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Let's start with pride since all of these verses start with the warning.  All of these verses warn against the results of pride, but maybe it will be helpful to look at what pride really is.

Pride is idolatry.  Pride is all about self:  Look how awesome I am.  Don't worry God, I've got this one.  Pride has a peculiar way of making us blind and deaf.

We can't see what's right in front us, even though it's obvious to everyone else.  No matter how much people try to warn us, or give us good advice we're way too smart for that.  They're not nearly as smart as we are.

If you have ever tried to teach or coach a prideful person you know how frustrating this can be.  Pride makes people unteachable.  What can you possibly teach the person who already "knows it all".  Ironically, the person who is suffering from pride never seems to have much in his life to be proud about.  That is Solomon's warning in the first verse above.  Despite living in disgrace brought on by pride, these people foolishly parade around like they have life all figured out.  They are blinded to the fact that they are a joke to the people around them, then ones who can clearly see their disgrace.

Pride is idolatry.  Pride honors self above God.

Psalm 81:11-12

"But My people would not listen to Me; Israel would not submit to Me.  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices."

Then, what is humility?

Humility listens and thinks before speaking.  Humility recognizes that others, and especially God, have something of value to teach.  Humility submits to God's will.  Ironically, though not boastful and self-promoting, humility brings honor where pride and arrogance bring disgrace and destruction.

Notice also that humility precedes honor and wisdom.  Everyone wants the honor and wisdom, but few are willing to pay the price of doing what is required to obtain it:  humbly serving others.  That's really the secret of humility:  it empowers us to serve.  It helps us forget about ourselves and serve others, however they need to be served.   If you're trying to serve people in the way that you want to, with little or no regard for what they need you are not displaying humility.  You are not actually serving those people.  You are only serving yourself.   This is really a problem when people do this with the Lord, when we try to dictate to God how we are going to serve Him.  As Christians, it is our privilege to serve God in the way that He commands us to, and calls us to.  We need to guard against the temptation to "follow our own devices".

Can you imagine Jesus' life and ministry had He not humbly submitted to the Father's plan of salvation?  That wouldn't leave us in a very good place.  Our condition would be hopeless.  Thankfully, Jesus humbled Himself to become a human being and pay the price for the sins of all mankind.  He loves us so much that He willing died to redeem us, the crown jewel of His creation, from sin, death and the power of hell.  We should all be humbled when we think about how much Jesus loves us and what He has done for us!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

God bless

Jason Fredrick