When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Pride is promoted and celebrated in the world as a good thing. People are to take pride in themselves and what they can do or have already done. In the eyes of the world, if someone does not have something to be proud about, there is shame. Humility is looked at as a weakness that is to be avoided at all costs. One is to lift up oneself above and beyond everyone else to be seen as successful in this world.
Solomon points out that when there is pride, shame is coming, but where there is humility, there is wisdom.
In the moment of having pride in oneself, it appears to be a good thing. Self is being lifted up and celebrated, rather than being torn down.
Every time there is pride one is putting oneself above others in some way. For a time, this may be true, but there will come a time when that person will fall or begin to fail in what was being done to bring about the pride. At the moment of failure, shame rises very quickly. The person is no longer as great as once thought.
Instead of seeking pride, one needs to be humble. When one lifts others up before self, there can no longer be a fall that causes shame, because the person is already placed self at the bottom.
Jesus, being God Himself, placed Himself upon the cross, the ultimate level of humility only to be raised up and placed in the highest honor afterwards. Believers are to live their lives in the same way.
Being humble brings on great wisdom. It is looking at the end eternal result, not the immediate temporary feelings that will bring about shame and death.
You will have times in your life when pride will try to rise up and grab a hold of you. Remember that without God, you cannot do anything. Pride will only bring about shame and death in the end. Humble yourself and lift God and others above yourself as Jesus did when He went to the cross.
This is the way to live a true and abundant life in this life and in the life to come. It will bring about wisdom, rather than shame.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal pride in your life; that God will strengthen you to remove the pride in your life; that you will be humble as Jesus was humble; and that you will know the wisdom that comes with humility in your walk with God.
Picture by Lee Sun hyun on Unsplash
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