Proverbs 17:19
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He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
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Real men love to fight. That is a lie! Fighting is sin and leads to other sins. Men that love to fight love sin, because that is what they do by their contention and vicious and vindictive spirits. Godly men are peacemakers (Matt 5:9; Rom 12:18; Jas 3:17-18)! The only fighting you can justify is holy contending for the truth (Neh 13:23-28; Jude 1:3).
Real men look out for number one. That is also a lie! Looking out for yourself and exalting yourself is arrogance, conceit, and pride. Men that like to promote themselves are looking to be destroyed, because that is what is coming (16:18; 18:12; 29:23). Godly men are humble and meek and avoid publicity as far as possible (15:33; 18:12; 29:23).
The two clauses in the proverb are strongly connected. The first clause condemns fighting as sin, and the second clause promises destruction to the proud. What is the connection? It is pride that causes fighting (28:25)! "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom" (13:10). All fighting would end without human pride.
Consider the first clause. What a sober warning! If you like to argue, debate, fight, quarrel, or wrangle, you must love sin, because that is what you are doing. But God said, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph 4:31-32).
If you smell a fight starting, stop it! Fighting will always escalate, unless one party ends it (17:14; 26:21)! Reject angry men, because they foolishly love to fight (15:18; 22:24-25; 29:22). Reject hateful men, because it is love that ends fights (10:12; 17:9; I Pet 4:8).
Reject talebearers, because they cause fights (16:28; 26:20). If you see a scorner - one who despises correction, get rid of him, because he also causes fights (22:10). Fighting comes from the lusts in your sinful flesh, which must be rejected (Gal 5:19-21; Jas 4:1).
Consider the second clause. Another sober warning! If you promote yourself, you will be destroyed. Your gate is your estate, reputation, or influence. You are not to exalt these things, because pride brings destruction (16:18). Humility is far better (16:19; Ps 138:6).
Let other men praise you, but do not do it yourself (27:2). Take a reserved approach to public gatherings (25:6-7). Learn God's way to be exalted - by abasing yourself (Luke 14:11). Be like John the Baptist, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
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