Proverbs 27:2 CEV

 
Who gives you a thumbs up?
How great does it feel when somebody gives you praise? It feels even better when we don’t have to ask or throw hints for praise. The greatest praise will come from God and not man.
 
It’s frustrating when we put a lot of time and effort into something and nobody seems to notice. If the thumbs up we are looking for doesn’t come within the time we think it should, we start to ask people what do they think of the work we did? Now the problem here becomes we really are only looking for one answer. We are not looking for suggestions, constructive criticism, or what they like or don’t like. We want some praise. Directing people toward praise is no different than praising yourself.
 
Most of the time when we are searching for praise, we are looking for praise from people, instead of God. If we are living to get praise from people, then we will only get praise from people. Focusing on the admiration from man leads people away from The Lord. John talked about this very thing
 
John 12:43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
and in
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
 
Getting and looking for praise from people are two different things. If we expect to be praised and we not, we will not be happy until we are. If we are not looking for praise, we are not going to miss what we are not expecting. We may actually feel humble when we receive it.
Chris Riehl
 

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Proverbs 27:2 KJV

 
What do you think? Comment here!

Proverbs 30:2 ESV

 
The fastest way to wisdom is to be a fool, for God resists the proud and gives grace to the lowly (I Cor 3:18-20; James 4:6,10). The fastest way to folly is to think yourself wise, for God will destroy the proud (26:12; Isaiah 5:21; Rom 1:20-25; I Cor 1:19-21; Gal 6:3).
 
Here are inspired words of Agur (30:1), revealing his poor spirit and humble character at teaching Ithiel and Ucal. Note his use of “surely” to strengthen his admission.
 
Brutish. Of or pertaining to the brutes, or lower animals, as opposed to man. In want of intelligence or in failure to use reason: dull, irrational, uncultured, stupid. He opens instruction to his students by claiming to be more ignorant than any man, like a brute beast; and there is no false humility here, for he speaks by prophetic inspiration.
 
Solomon showed the same humility; when offered anything by the LORD, he admitted he was but a child and asked for wisdom (I Kings 3:5-9). And this humble spirit before God brought him very great blessings of understanding and much more (I Kgs 3:10-13).
 
And Agur and Solomon are not alone, for we see this very same spirit also in Moses (Num 12:3), Elihu (Job 32:6-7), David (I Sam 18:23; Ps 131:1), Asaph (Ps 73:21-22), Jeremiah (Jer 1:6), Daniel (Dan 2:30), Amos (Amos 7:14-15), and Paul (Eph 3:8).
 
Dear reader, do you see a pattern? Great men of God do not claim to be wise, for their secret to success lies in their complete humility before their Creator and Lord. And this is God’s order for things (Rom 12:16), as this brings Him the greater glory (I Cor 1:27). The God of heaven looks unto the man poor in spirit and with a contrite heart (Is 66:1-2).
 
God will bless the poor in spirit with riches of wisdom and other spiritual blessings (Matt 5:3; Luke 6:24). The man who says, “I do not know what to do,” may stand still and see God work for him (II Chron 20:12,17). Go to Him this way today and become wise! None of us know as we ought to know (I Cor 8:2); but we respond with confidence when confronting enemies of truth (Job 33:1-3; 36:1-4; Luke 1:3; I Cor 14:20; II Tim 3:17).
 
Has there ever been any meeker than our Lord Jesus? Never! He was lowly in heart, forbid promotional efforts, and never raised his voice in the street (Matt 11:29; 12:15-20).
Jonathan Crosby
 

Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

Proverbs 30:2 KJV

 
What do you think? Comment here!

Proverbs 29:23 KJV

Proverbs 22:4 NKJV

 
Only the LORD can give so much wisdom with such great promises in fourteen words. Praise His glorious name! And thank Him for the opportunity of learning this secret of the living and true God. The world stumbles on in educated ignorance, wondering why they are so poor, despised, and dysfunctional! They will never know this wisdom. Glory!
 
Here are two conditions for three blessings. A wise man will grasp each of the five aspects of this simple and direct proverb. Neglecting an inspired jewel like this is self-deceit and self-hate, for the blessings are great and the conditions easy. Humble yourself before your Creator, and reject every idea you have contrary to the wisdom before you.
 
Humility is the first condition. It is thinking lowly of yourself. It admits you are a sinner, do not have all the answers, and without God’s help cannot do anything well or right. It is proven by taking correction, saying you are sorry, avoiding public praise, serving others quietly, being reserved publicly, never talking about yourself, and praising others.
 
The fear of the LORD is the other condition. This is reverently seeking to honor God in all you do. Such a man does everything possible to obey and please the LORD, and He avoids anything to dishonor Him as much as possible. You can recognize it by the desire a man has for preaching, the Bible, and righteousness, and how much he hates sin (8:13).
 
Riches are the first blessing. Sometimes these are… financial blessings, but they are often other things as well. There are many natural things greater than money in the bank to everyone but greedy misers (15:17; 16:8; 17:1). Spiritual blessings here and hereafter are also included. If you are disappointed or unmoved by heavenly riches, you have neither humility nor the fear of the Lord, and you do not understand real wealth (Luke 16:11).
 
Honor is the second blessing. A humble man who fears the LORD will grow in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). The blessed God honors those who honor Him (I Sam 2:30; Jas 4:10). A man who fears the LORD will be honored by others, for his conduct will be gracious and righteous (18:12; 22:11). Men will want to be his friend, and he will be lifted up from among other men by these two excellent and exceptional traits.
 
Life is the third blessing. The senses in which life is meant here include things that cannot be described (I Cor 2:9). But Scripture does mention an abundant life, a good life, a joyful life, a peaceful life, a productive life, an extended life, and eternal life. And both here and hereafter will be spent with God Himself as your friend (Gen 15:1; Ex 33:11).
Jonathan Crosby
 

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life

Proverbs 22:4 KJV

 
What do you think? Comment here!

Proverbs 11:2 CEV

The worst thing you can have is pride. It will cost you more than anything else. Conceit will deceive you into folly, which will quickly and surely shame you. But humility leads to wisdom, which protects men from foolish mistakes and the resulting shame. Dear reader, do you grasp the importance of this lesson?
You will never hear or read a more important warning for your life! Never! Pride will destroy you, but it will destroy you disgracefully and shamefully before all men.

A fool is a horrible thing, as Solomon often taught. But there is something worse than a fool – a proud fool! He said, “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him” (26:12). There is little hope for a fool, but there is no hope for a proud fool. His arrogance will not allow instruction or correction.

Pride blinds men. They cannot perceive wisdom to avoid trouble and shame. They resent being taught or corrected by others. They are confident! They arrogantly rush on in their high opinions of their own thoughts and ideas. Pride brings folly, which brings shame. Dear reader…hate pride! Fear the Lord! “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (8:13).

Pride is a heinous evil. It began with the devil. It caused Satan’s downfall. Lucifer was not content as God’s anointed cherub; he wanted to be like the most High (Ezek 28:14; Is 14:14). So God threw him out of heaven to his everlasting shame (John 12:31; Rev 12:9,12). The smoke of his torment will be heaven’s incense (Matt 25:41; Rev 14:11).

Dear reader, do you hate it yet? Pride is the devil’s sin! Pride ruined the glorious life of the universe’s highest creature! Pride caused his everlasting shame and torment! Pride is the worst thing you can have in your life! It will cost you more than anything else! Ministers cannot have any of his pride or self-will (I Tim 3:6; Tit 1:7), for it will cause them to run amok in the work of their office. Teachers and rulers must first be humble enough to learn from others and examine themselves critically, before they should be put in a position to teach and examine others (I Tim 4:16; II Tim 2:15).

Due to pride, Pharaoh, the greatest king of that time, destroyed himself, his family, his nation, and his army (Ex 5:2). And men have laughed at his destruction and shame for the last 3500 years (Ex 15:1-21; I Sam 4:8; 6:6; Neh 9:10; Ps 136:9,15; Rom 9:17)! Even children rejoice and laugh at the frogs in Pharaoh’s bed and bread (Ex 8:3)!

Due to pride, the Philistines fought against Israel, in spite of remembering what God had done to Egypt 500 years earlier (I Sam 4:7-9). After capturing the ark of God, they put it before their idol Dagon, which fell down and worshipped it (I Sam 5:1-5)! God then gave the whole nation an epidemic of hemorrhoids, and the only way they could find relief was to return the ark with five golden hemorrhoids as a peace offering (I Sam 6:1-5)!

Consider their shame! The whole nation scratched their secret parts (I Sam 5:9), and there was no Preparation H! Their only relief was to mold five golden hemorrhoids! God laughed at their shame! He inspired Psalm 78:66 for this event, which rejoices, “And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.” Indeed! They were put to perpetual shame for pride! What a peace offering! Who modeled for them!

Due to pride, Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest and most glorious king of all time, spent seven years crawling around a field on his hands and knees! He ate grass like an ox; his hairs grew out like eagle feathers; and his nails grew out like bird claws (Dan 4:33)! And he wrote the whole story down and sent it to his entire kingdom (Dan 4:1-3)! What trouble! What shame! And all because of pride (Dan 4:30-31)!

Due to pride, Herod Agrippa I, the King of Judea from 37-44 AD, who killed the apostle James and tried to kill Peter, was eaten of worms for receiving the excessive praise of men (Acts 12:1-4,20-23). Josephus confirms his death (Antiquities; Book 19; 8:2). Don’t forget the Tower of Babel, Miriam, Korah, Balaam, Uzziah, Haman, Absalom, and Belshazzar. But now, dear reader, celebrating the shame of others, which is an act of holy worship to God, is over! It is your turn. Where is the pride in your life?

God is jealous. His name is Jealous (Ex 34:14). He is able, and He will, abase those who walk in pride (Dan 4:37; Job 40:11-12). He sees and knows the very thoughts and intents of your heart (Heb 4:12). You must examine yourself closely, find the seeds of pride in your life, and root them out quickly and completely. What is pride? It is a high or overweening opinion of one’s own qualities, attainments, or estate, which gives rise to a feeling and attitude of superiority over and contempt for others; inordinate self-esteem (OED). What is conceit? It is an overweening opinion of oneself; overestimation of one’s own qualities, personal vanity or pride (OED).

We are nothing, and less than nothing, in the sight of God (Ps 39:5; 62:9; 113:6; Is 40:17). We are worms before Him (Job 25:6). We are mere creatures whose breath is in our nostrils (Is 2:22). Therefore, He hates the proud, and He will crush them like a moth and melt them like wax (6:16-17; Ps 39:11; 68:2).
Pride thinks you are important. Pride enjoys conversations and events about you. Pride believes your thoughts and opinions are right. Pride resents correction and instruction. Pride envies the advantages, abilities, or honors of others. Pride ignores asking others for advice. Pride looks down on others. Read this description again, dear reader.

Pride is a temptation for every man, and one of Satan’s favorite devices (I John 2:16). He tempted Eve to be like God, and he tempted our Lord with the kingdoms of the world. Our depraved hearts are filled with it by nature. You are already a proud fool, if you think you do not have a problem with it. Only those who know they are proud are learning humility. To think you have beaten pride is to prove your arrogant conceit!

Our nation is addicted to pride. Our nationalistic arrogance is greater than any other. We are the proudest people on earth. We believe we are the feeding mother and disciplining father for the whole world. We glorify pride at home by calling it self-esteem and preaching it as the panacea for humanity’s problems! Books are sold about looking out for number one, and songs are sung about self-love as the greatest love of all!

We must start at home. We must root pride out of our own souls, and then we must root it out of our families. Parents must make it the highest priority to teach humility and eradicate visible pride from their children. And pastors must root it out of their churches. Pride causes folly, which brings shame. It blinds men, because they presume they are always right (12:15; 14:16; 26:12; 28:26). So they reject and resent counsel and correction (21:24; 22:3). They disrespect those in authority. They make hasty decisions, for they cannot possibly be wrong (14:29; 29:20). It causes strife, for they fight to defend their position (13:10; 28:25). They cannot stoop to serve others, unless it serves them best. And they will not admit mistakes to God or men. Such a course will lead a man to foolish decisions and their horrible consequences – destruction and shame!

Lowliness is wisdom. The humble man does not trust his knowledge or motives, trembles before God’s word, appreciates and esteems the advice of others, takes correction cheerfully, quickly confesses mistakes, and alters his life. Here is the certain road to wisdom, which saves a man from trouble and shame, but only the lowly ever find it. The proud are blinded from it by their conceit, and the Jealous God of heaven intends to keep them blinded, so He can bless His children with wisdom (Matt 11:25-27).

God will never bless a man with a proud spirit (16:5). He draws near to the man with the humble spirit (Is 57:15; 66:2; I Pet 5:5-6). If you choose pride, God will resist you and humble you painfully (16:18; 18:12). If you choose humility cheerfully, God will raise you up gloriously (Luke 14:11). It is far better to be a poor humble man than to be a rich proud man, for God is about to cause a great reversal of fortune (16:19). Look for it!

Our blessed Lord Jesus Christ gave us the greatest example of humility and wisdom, when He came from heaven’s glory to live in poverty and die in obscurity and pain (Phil 2:5-8). He despised the shame of His humility (Heb 12:2). But God has now highly exalted Him far above all principalities and powers, yea, even far above the devil and all his angels (Phil 2:9-11; Eph 1:20-23). There is no more humility in the Blessed and Only Potentate, for He is worthy of all our praise and adoration.
Jonathan Crosby

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2 KJV

What do you think? Comment here!