Proverbs 29:23
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A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
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Are you going up or down in life? Are you more a prince or a prisoner? Are you honored or hardly known? Every person wants a successful life, and this simple proverb tells you how. One of the greatest factors is your attitude about yourself. If you are arrogant and haughty, you are going down! If you are modest and meek, you are going up!
King Solomon warned often against pride, and he had reasons to be conceited. He had the most wisdom, wealth, and power; and he was attractive! But he blasted pride as an evil that destroys men's lives. He warned his son and citizens. The many repetitions in a book of wisdom declare loudly - this matter is very important and tends to be overlooked!
Consider! "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (16:18). "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom" (11:2). "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility" (18:12). "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him" (26:12).
How will pride take you down and humility bring you honor? Men hate arrogance, and they love graciousness (9:6-9; 11:2; 14:3; 21:24; 22:10-11). If you are conceited and haughty, you will not grow in favor with men; they will do what they can to cut you off from friendships and opportunities. If you are meek, modest, and submissive, men will appreciate and enjoy your spirit and do what they can to include and help you.
How will pride take you down and humility bring you honor? Conceit and haughtiness lead to bad decisions, because you are too arrogant to hear others, and you are too confident to examine your own ideas (11:2; 12:15; 14:16; 16:25; 22:3; 26:12,16; 29:20). You are doomed! A humble man, who trusts the Lord, doubts his opinions and is eager to hear the judgment of others (3:5-7; 6:6; 11:14; 12:15; 15:32; 19:20). He will prosper!
How will pride take you down and humility bring you honor? If the first two results of pride do not bring you down (and they will eventually), the final result most surely will. God hates pride and the proud, and it does not matter how much effort they make to protect themselves - He will destroy them (3:34; 6:16-17; 15:25; 16:2,5; 21:2; Job 40:9-14; Dan 4:37). But God shall bless and exalt the humble in spirit (3:34; Is 57:15; 66:2).
Contrary to Solomon's inspired wisdom, the world now considers pride a virtue and defends conceit. From athletes to actresses to politicians, bloated egos and haughty words are the norm. Children are taught self-esteem and self-love until they are convinced the universe revolves around them. They should be taught to love and serve others. All ages can boldly say, "I am proud of what I have accomplished." But pride is a terrible sin!
Reader, what is in your heart? Sinful thoughts of ambition and pride that condemned the devil (I Tim 3:6)? Or the childlike humility of Solomon (I Kgs 3:6-9)? If you will humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, He will exalt you soon (I Pet 5:6-7).
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