Pride (Part 2 of 4) - Clarity in Contrast

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18, 19

Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility. Proverbs 18:12

How can God make the idolatry of our hearts more clear? What level of contrast is necessary to see pride in its proper perspective? These proverbs focus a spotlight on two important objects.

The first is the connection between haughtiness and pride. We don’t think about sin as some form of idolatry, though it is (Psalm 40:4). We need something a little earthier. How about recognizing a haughty spirit? This is dead simple with others. Will it work for us by ourselves? Probably not. Sin is deceitful, and pride is more than subtle. Here is the lesson. We need community. We can’t forsake the gathering together as His children (Hebrews 10:25). We need the sharpening that comes from brothers and sisters. We need the wisdom of our spouse and children or brothers and sisters at church. Will this guarantee that I will repent of a haughty spirit? No, but it will guarantee that you will hear about it at the soonest possible instance. It will be easier to repent while the weed is still small.

The second spotlight reveals our target – humility. Who are our models? Let’s start with Moses and Jesus. Moses is recognized in Numbers 12:3 as the most humble man in the Old Testament. The background to this recognition is summarized in this verse from Numbers 12:7 “But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.” Moses was no slouch when it came to looking to God for provision and following in obedience. True, he wasn’t perfect, but he is our example for imitation regarding humility toward God. In the New Testament, we can look to many saints, but Jesus must be the source. Philippians 2 is the crowning verse summarizing the full and complete obedience of Christ to the Father and the level of humiliation that God was willing to undergo to effect our salvation. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father until all things are put under His feet. Humility certainly precedes honor. We should follow Christ in humility.