The Promise of Humility and the Perils of Pride
By Steve Brandon, November 2006

In recent days, I have been leading a study with some of the men in the church on the topic of humility.  In all my thinking and reading and  preparing, nothing has impacted me more than a simple study that I did in  the book of Proverbs.  I went through the book, scanning for references to pride and humility.  I wrote down these verses.  After putting these verses  together, I looked to see what sorts of promises that the Lord gives to those  who are humble.  I also looked for the perils that will come upon those who  are proud.  I put the promises on one side of my paper.  I put the perils on  the other side of the paper. 
    
It sounds easy enough.  But then, when I began to look at the promises and perils, it dawned on me.  I asked myself, “Why would I ever want to be proud?  It will only bring ruin to me and my house.  Why would I ever run  from humility?  It will bring great blessing and honor to me and my house.” Perhaps you can experience the same realization as I did.

First, let us consider a dozen or so verses that address pride and humility.

Please take the time to read them slowly and think about each of them.
Proverbs 3:34 - Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
Proverbs 8:13 - The fear or the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.
Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 15:25 - The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, but He will establish the boundary of the widow.
Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.
Proverbs 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.
Proverbs 18:12 - Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.
Proverbs 22:4 - The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor, and life.
Proverbs 25:6-7 - Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;  For it is better that it be said to you, ‘Come up here,’ than for  you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.)
Proverbs 29:23 - A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.                        
                                
Second, let us consider the following chart.  There is nothing too difficult about it.  I have simply rearranged the above verses into two categories, focusing upon the results that come about for those who are humble and for those who are proud.  Again, I ask you to consider these words carefully and slowly. 

Verse   The Promise of Humility
3:34     God gives grace.
11:2     Humility is wise.
15:25    God will establish the boundary.
15:33    Honor will come.
16:18-19 It is better to be humble and lowly.
18:12    Honor will come.
22:4     Riches, honor and life will come.
25:6-7   Better to be told by others to
            “come up here.”
29:23    Will obtain honor. 

Verse  The Perils of Pride
3:34    God scoffs at scoffers.
8:13    God hates pride and arrogance.
11:2    Dishonor will come.
15:25   God will tear down the house.
16:18-19  Destruction will come.
          Stumbling will come.
          It is worse to divide spoil with the proud.
18:12   Destruction will come.
25:6-7  Worse to be placed lower in the presence of the prince.
29:23   Will bring you low.

Now, let me ask you, which of these results do you want?  Do you want honor, riches, and life?  Do you want the favor of God to shine upon you?  Then be humble.  Do you want God to scoff at you and hate you?  Do you want the Lord to tear down your house?  Do you want to stumble, be brought low, and be destroyed?  Then be proud.

Certainly, John Stott had these things in mind when he said, “At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility is our greatest friend” (as quoted by C. J. Mahaney in his book, Humility, p. 29).  Humility will be the character quality that the Lord will use in our lives to greatly bless us.  He will honor us and give us great grace as we “consider others as more important than ourselves” (Phil. 2:3).  And yet, should we prove to be proud, thinking much of ourselves and our own accomplishments, things will not go well for us.  The Lord will become our enemy, bringing destruction and misery and difficulty into our lives. 

When looked at in this way, I think that none of us would willingly chose the perils of pride over the promises of humility.  And yet, pride is something that has its roots deep within all of us.  Because we are all so self-absorbed, it is difficult to truly be humble, looking not to our own interests, but to the interests of others.  But, being humble will lead to great blessing.
How can you be humble?  Here are three ways:  (1) Study the attributes of God, the doctrines of grace, and the doctrine of sin; (2) Pray for the Lord to grant you humility; and (3) Express your thankfulness to God and to others whenever you have opportunity.