Pride

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better is it to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”—Proverbs 16:18-19

What more vivid exposition of these proverbs is needed, than our own ruined condition? Our father’s pride, desiring to “be as God,” hurried his whole race to destruction. “O Adam” was the exclamation of a man of God, “what hast thou done!”“I think,” said another holy man, “so far as any man is proud, he is kin to the devil, and a stranger to God and to himself.” The most awful strength of divine eloquence seems to be concentrated to delineate the character and ruin of pride. Examples abound throughout the Scripture; each sounding this solemn admonition—“Be not high-minded, but fear” (Rom 11:20; also 1Co 10:12, 1Ti 3:6). Fearful indeed is our danger, if the caution be not welcomed—if the need for it be not deeply felt!

The haughty spirit carries the head high. The man looks upward instead of to his steps. What wonder therefore, if, not seeing what is before him, he falls? He loves to climb; the enemy is always at hand to assist him (Mat 4:5-6); and the greater the height, the more dreadful the fall. There is often something in the fall that marks the Lord’s special judgment. God smites the object of which the man is proud. David gloried in the number of his people, and the Lord diminished them by pestilence. Hezekiah boasted of his treasure, and the Lord marked it to be taken away. At the moment when Nebuchadnezzar was proud of his Babel, he was banished from the enjoyment of it. “The vain daughters of Zion,” priding themselves on their ornaments, were covered with disgrace (Isa 3:24). Yet after all, the state of heart that prepares man for the fall is the worst part of his condition. For what is our pride is our danger. “Why,” a wise man asks, “is earth and ashes proud? Pride was not made for man.”

But have we been preserved from open disgrace? Examine secret faults. Trace them to their source—a subtle confidence in gifts, attainments, and privileges. And then praise thy God for His painful discipline, the preserving mercy from ruinous self-exaltation. Truly the way down to the Valley of Humiliation is deep and rugged. Humility, therefore, is the grand preserving grace. The contrite publican was safe, [while] the boasting Pharisee was confounded (Luk 18:14). Better then—more happy, more honourable, more acceptable to God and man—is a humble spirit companying with the lowly, than the spoil of the haughty conqueror, ministering only to his destruction (Jam 1:9). Better is an humble spirit, than a high condition; to have our temper brought down, than our outward condition raised. But who believes this? Most men strive to rise; few desire to lie low! May thy example, blessed Saviour, keep me low! “When Majesty,” said pious Bernard, “humbled Himself, shall the worm swell with pride?”