Probing Proverbs - Each path has a final destination, know which one you are on.

Proverbs 11:2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

One day I was sitting on a covered porch, the grass had just been mowed. I was studying the Scriptures and the topic I was reading about was “humility.” As I was studying, a thunderstorm broke over the area. Buckets of rain came down, which I loved because I was safe under the cover yet still experienced the noise and smell of the storm. I saw the water coming down off the yard onto the porch. Then I noticed something; the porch was tiled with grout. The blades of grass being washed down onto the porch taught me something. The blades that remained high on top of the tile, would get stuck and not move; the blades of grass that were in the low groove of the grout moved very quickly across the porch and back into the yard. Taking the lower (humble) path moves you to your goal quickly.

Many of the Proverbs sound very much alike, which is the beauty of this book. If you just scan by it quickly you will think it is just repetitive, however if you slow down and allow the Spirit of God to illuminate you, you will find that, though many of the topics are the same, because these are the “topics” of life, each Proverb will bring its own facet, perspective or enrichment to that specific topic.

Here we see two paths offered in the way we live. Each path describes an attitude toward life and each path shares the end destination of that path. Sadly, many look at these Proverbs as negative, instead of what they really are, positive warnings and encouragements about how we choose to live. God could have left us on our own to learn these things the hard way, many still choose to do that, I know I have. Yet, through time and maturity I have found it is far healthier and easier to “learn then live” instead of “live and learn!”

Consider these two paths:

Pride - זָדֹון (zā∙ḏôn) means swelling, pride;  as joined with insolence and arrogance, haughtiness.

This is an attitude where we think “we are all that!” The outward appearance will be a sense of superiority, not easily corrected and “I am right” mentality.

One of my responsibilities over the years has been to help train speakers. One brother, who is really a very decent man, has a pride problem. When I shared with him a challenge about his messages he just blew me off. I had heard him speak quite a few times, so I brought to his attention that I had noticed that 100% of his personal illustrations made him look good. Never had he shared a failure or the struggles he has. Sadly, he has a clear disconnect with his audience, yet wonders why he is not asked to speak as often as he wishes.

Pride is deadly, with this brother it has affected a small area of his life, which could lead to other areas being affected, however if we spend the majority of our life on this path it ends in:

 

קָלוֹן (qālôn) shame, disgrace, personal dishonor

At some point, when you have spent most of your life thinking your right, refusing accountability and holding a “better than you” attitude, the place you will end up will be shame. Whether it be with family and friends who have had enough, or at the Throne of the Lord, when you realize that even God was not allowed to correct you. In both scenarios you will find that your destination is to feel shame and disgrace.   

The other path is:

צָנוַּע (ṣānûaʿ) modest - to be lowly, submissive.

This an attitude where we do not look at ourselves as better than anyone, in fact we firmly believe except for the Grace of our Lord, we could fall into any sin. We realize that even our victories, even though we recognize the effort we applied, were based on our dependence on Him and He blessed us. The outward appearance of this will be a person that can receive correction, understands there is a lot they do not know, and never presumes to be right, instead deferring to Truth which is always right. The destination for this path is:

חָכְמָה (ḥokmâ) wisdom.

Wisdom is the ability to apply the data we have taken in. It is worthless to know what the Truth is, if you do not understand what it means or how it applies. This person’s destination will be viewed by family and friends as a source of comfort, counsel and truth.  
When they stand before God, “saved by grace through faith” as all are, and they will not be ashamed, because wisdom led them to count on Christ, not themselves.

Which path are you spending most of your life on? We all stray, the question is...is it a moment, or a lifestyle? Who in your life can you talk to about your pride? Are you humble enough to talk to someone?