PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2 KJV).

I do not find anywhere in the Bible where the Bible tells us to pray for humility. Pious people do that. The Bible always says to “humble yourself.” (Mat 23). “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (Jas 4:10 KJV). It is our job to do that. It is our job to confess our sins—it’s not God’s duty other than to show us our sin—it is our job to get right and to stay right with God. God leaves that all up to us, it is our responsibility. The person that prays for humility only proves that he has no humility. Now, God can humble us. He can certainly do a better job.

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1Pe 5:5-6 KJV).

“Who is able to stand before envy?” (Proverbs 27:4). Envy is a terrible thing, but usually when someone is envious, they think they deserve something better than what they got, and that’s usually connected with pride. They think that they are somebody, and that they are something, and they feel they deserve better than anyone else—so they are envious of others—it all hinges on pride.

Pride is the real first sin, as we see in Ezekiel, chapter 28 and Isaiah 14, dealing with the Devil--pride was found in his heart, and haughtiness, “when pride cometh, then cometh shame, but with the lowly is wisdom.” A humble man when he doesn’t know something will admit that he doesn’t know it but is willing to listen. He’ll say, “I don’t really understand, but will you show me.” You take a proud person; you can’t tell them anything.

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let's read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let's keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

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