Proverbs 16:17-33

“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, NKJV)

We all share an enemy. He is deceitful and cunning. He poses as a friend, but he will quickly betray you. He lifts you up to the heights and then casts you down to the pit. This enemy is pride, and it is as close as our own heart. It was the sin by which Lucifer fell from heaven, and he deceives people with it to destroy them.

As David looked over his kingdom—his great wealth, military conquests, and favor with the people—it was pride that caused him to number the people contrary to the law of God. And seventy thousand souls died in the plague that followed. For a moment, David forgot that he was nothing apart from God.

How much better is it to humble ourselves and refuse to go beyond the commandment of God? How much safer is it to have a low opinion of ourselves? People may accuse you of being weak, but if you have a humble spirit, then you are walking in the path of our Lord. Being humble doesn’t mean that you think bad thoughts about yourself; you simply don’t think about yourself at all! You may not be the center of attention. You may quietly serve in the background, and people hardly see you or know you exist. But God sees, and God rewards in His time.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” (1 Peter 5:6, NKJV)