HUMILITY IS HONORED

Two of our passages today speak of Pride. Prov. 29:23 states, “A man’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.” The problems with pride are mentioned in various other places in Proverbs. Here are two:
Prov. 16:18-19: “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
Prov. 18:12: “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.”
Peter also exhorts this in 1 Peter 5:5: “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

In Psalm 131, also in our reading today, David gives a beautiful picture of a life committed to God. In verse 1, he claims that his heart is not proud, nor his eyes haughty. In verse 2, he likens his life to a weaned child that nestles against his mother in peace and confidence that she will protect and care for his needs. This reminds me of Psalm 37:7: “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.” When we compare ourselves to the awesome, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal God we serve, there is no room for pride on our part. We can kneel in humility, recognizing that all that we have and are, and ever will be, is a gift from Him, and He loves and protects us far more than a mother’s love for her child.

We thank and praise you, Lord God, for allowing us to be a part of your eternal family. Help us to rest in your great power and love, and serve you and those in our lives with humility.