June 24, 2009
Central Truth
God's design is perfected through our humility, but all too often our pride gets in the way.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
(Proverbs 11:2)
1
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
but a just weight is his delight.
2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
3
The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5
The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6
The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
7
When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
and the expectation of wealth
1
11:7
Or of his strength, or of iniquity
perishes too.
8
The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.
9
With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11
By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
12
Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
13
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14
Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15
Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16
A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.
17
A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
18
The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19
Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will die.
20
Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21
Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23
The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
26
The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27
Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
2
11:27
Or acceptance
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29
Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
31
If the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Pride and humility: two words that dramatically summarize much of my life. I became a believer when I was 14. Fairly soon after having trusted Christ as my Savior, I began to be prideful about being a "good Christian girl." Sounds strange, I know. After all, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
When I trusted Christ, I confessed my sins, but I quickly fell into a pattern that many of us struggle with, that of sin comparing. I became judgmental and critical of others, and I often spoke harsh words about others and their sins. This sin pattern was a bitter root in my life and only led me into more sin until I eventually found myself living in isolation and depression.
A few years ago, God humbled me, and I admitted my pride and how it had led me to the place where I was. Then, at the age of 27 I became a follower (not just a believer) of Christ. Proverbs 11 teaches us many ways that pride leads to unrighteousness, crookedness, godless and slanderous speech, wrath, selfishness, and much more. Verse 2 says with "humility comes wisdom." God's plan for our lives requires humility. We must humble ourselves daily to realize our need for a savior. We must admit our unrighteousness so that we can approach His throne of grace and receive His mercy. We must realize we are not perfect or righteous and that only through the blood of Christ can we be righteous before God.
Regardless whether pride is a major struggle for you, we all are called to humble ourselves each day and accept that we need God's strength and wisdom to get us through. I often think I can do it on my own, and I find myself stressed, frustrated, and still facing many of the same sin patterns. But if I humble myself and choose to follow Christ, He gives me wisdom for that day.
1. What are some areas in your life in which you struggle with pride?
2. In what ways does your pride present itself (anger, slanderous speech, etc.)?
3. How does your pride affect those around you?
4. How do you think your pride impacts your relationship with God?