When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Prideful attitudes and actions are something to be avoided at all costs. The Bible actually has a lot to say about pride - and very little of it if any is good. Here the kind of pride we are warned against is actually presumption. It is when we presume upon the Lord thinking that we know exactly what needs to be done or said - when the fact is that we don't have a clue what God's will is. We are warned here that when this kind of presumptuous pride comes then shame and disgrace come with it.
When we decide that we know better than God - or - when we just are too busy doing what we want - and forget or choose not to ask Him - we are about to face some serious shame and disgrace. God is not a fan of those who presume to know His will and don't ask Him. Take the history of Joshua and Gibeonites in Joshua 6. The men came to Joshua hiding who they were with deception. Their clothes were worn out and their provisions were hard and crusty - as if they had been on a long journey. Israel decided to believe their eyes and make a decision without asking the Lord. The end was a disaster. They actually made a covenant with one of the nations of Canaan. Here is presumptuous pride ending in a shameful and disgraceful situation.
The best thing for us is to humble ourselves and admit that without the wisdom of God, we won't be able to make good godly decisions. To do otherwise is to be prideful - and be set up to make very bad decisions.
The Word tells us that with the humble there is wisdom. The humble are those who act with meekness. They are not arrogant or boastful - they embrace the truth of God concerning their own fallen nature - and choose to turn to Him for direction and leadership in what they do. The humble man is filled with wisdom - he sees things from God's perspective because he seeks the Lord who can direct him. There is not presumption here - but rather a seeking, humble, and obedient heart. This wise man wants to know God's take on what he thinks he may do. As a result there is not shame and disgrace - but honor and grace poured out so that this man is truly blessed.
Prideful attitudes and actions are something to be avoided at all costs. The Bible actually has a lot to say about pride - and very little of it if any is good. Here the kind of pride we are warned against is actually presumption. It is when we presume upon the Lord thinking that we know exactly what needs to be done or said - when the fact is that we don't have a clue what God's will is. We are warned here that when this kind of presumptuous pride comes then shame and disgrace come with it.
When we decide that we know better than God - or - when we just are too busy doing what we want - and forget or choose not to ask Him - we are about to face some serious shame and disgrace. God is not a fan of those who presume to know His will and don't ask Him. Take the history of Joshua and Gibeonites in Joshua 6. The men came to Joshua hiding who they were with deception. Their clothes were worn out and their provisions were hard and crusty - as if they had been on a long journey. Israel decided to believe their eyes and make a decision without asking the Lord. The end was a disaster. They actually made a covenant with one of the nations of Canaan. Here is presumptuous pride ending in a shameful and disgraceful situation.
The best thing for us is to humble ourselves and admit that without the wisdom of God, we won't be able to make good godly decisions. To do otherwise is to be prideful - and be set up to make very bad decisions.
The Word tells us that with the humble there is wisdom. The humble are those who act with meekness. They are not arrogant or boastful - they embrace the truth of God concerning their own fallen nature - and choose to turn to Him for direction and leadership in what they do. The humble man is filled with wisdom - he sees things from God's perspective because he seeks the Lord who can direct him. There is not presumption here - but rather a seeking, humble, and obedient heart. This wise man wants to know God's take on what he thinks he may do. As a result there is not shame and disgrace - but honor and grace poured out so that this man is truly blessed.
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