Proverbs 11:2 “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Have you ever realized a verse from scripture speaking directly to you in an “I told you so!” fashion? I have. So, in an effort to spare you, my friend, allow me to share my Proverbs 11 disgrace.
I had recently given birth to our third child and the struggle to get back into my clothes was real. Pridefully, I wished to be my pre-birth size and economically, I needed to. And so, the hard work began.
Early morning sit-ups, leafy-green salads, miles of pushing the stroller, more leafy-green salads, and hours of Richard Simmons’, “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.” (If you’ve never witnessed this exercise guru, promise me you will google his videos. You’ll thank me!)
Finally, I could squeeze my post-baby body back into my pre-baby jeans and tuck in my shirt to boot! The momentous occasion merited my getting out of the house, for I was confident all of humanity desired to applaud my accomplishment.
Rounding up my crew, I headed to the store. Immediately I became aware of people looking me over and smiling. I was so proud others recognized my hard work. I was even more proud to realize my jeans were not nearly as tight as I had anticipated.
Returning to the car, I reached down for the diaper bag and was mortified! My jeans were loose for a reason: my zipper was completely down and gaping wide open for all glory to witness!
“Pride leads to disgrace” proved very true for me.
Is self-pride ever regarded as virtuous in humanity? Admittedly, pride feels good for a fleeting moment. But sisters, be warned: disgrace will follow and disgrace is the absolute humbler!
Nabal’s story in I Samuel 25 epitomizes prideful disgrace. Scripture describes Nabal as, “cruel and mean,” both actions born out of his pride. Nabal held a greater-than-reality view of himself which caused him to lord-over David and his army, assuming them unworthy of his help. As Proverbs predicts, Nabal’s story ended in his untimely death, the ultimate disgrace. However, Nabal’s wife, Abigail, found immense blessing through her humility.
If pride were a painting, its strokes would be in abstract form, where the artist interprets the subject as he sees it, rather than with realistic detail. Pride does just that. Pride paints distorted and unrealistic pictures of reality, portraying ourselves as superior and others as inferior.
How is this problematic? Pride is power-hungry. It can split a church family, rip apart marriages, and topple large, successful companies. Painting an unrealistic view of ourselves and others creates unrealistic expectations and leaves little room for extending grace to those who need it most. Pride is not the example Jesus brought. In all ways, Christ was humble: from washing the disciples’ feet, to touching the leper, to receiving small children.
When we feel compelled to be prideful, let us fill ourselves with the pride of II Chronicles 17:6, “He (King Jehoshaphat) took great pride in the ways of the Lord…” NAS
Blessings,
Rita Cochrane