Proverbs in Pictures

KEY VERSE: “If thou host done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou host thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.” —Proverbs 30:32

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 30:18-33

THE LESSON OF this text seems to be the recognition of pride—a great evil—which we are all in a measure subject to, and to take action against its encroachments.

Pride, which is merely foolishness in the world, takes a much more serious aspect when it is found among the Lord’s true people. Why should this be? Because the world and merely professing Christian people are not on trial at this present time, whereas the true people of God are. “Now is the day of salvation” for the church, so judgment is taking place “at the house of God.”—II Cor. 6:2; I Pet. 4:17

The Christian has no cause for pride or glory in himself for he has nothing that he did not receive. (I Cor. 4:7) All that he has, all that he is, and all that he hopes for, comes from the Lord. The Lord has blessed and enriched his people, he has taken them “out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,” and has set their feet upon the Rock of Ages. He has clothed them “with the garments of salvation,” and has covered them “with the robe of righteousness.”—Ps. 40:2; Isa. 61:10

Indeed, as the Apostle Paul said, he “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3) How altogether unbecoming for any who have been so blessed and so benefited by the grace and favor of the Lord, to endeavor to glorify themselves or to take pride in what they have or are! Surely only a small mind could feel that pride in any form becomes the saints. All the glory belongs to the Lord, so “let him that glorleth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”—Jer. 9:24

The Scriptures declare that “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (I Pet. 5:5) Hence, we can safely conclude that to the extent any of the Lord’s people possess pride, to that degree God is resisting them, and to the same extent they are without the grace that otherwise would be their portion if they had the proper attitude of humility.

The Christian is exhorted to be “clothed with humility,” and oh, how such attire becomes and beautifully adorns the saints! And contrariwise, what wretched apparel is the cloak or covering of pride! Not only is humility beautiful clothing for the saints, but it helps to cover any of the imperfections of their fallen humanity. But pride is so ugly and undesirable that it hates to be known for what it really is, and so it often uses modesty of statement to give it the same appearance as humility.

The Christian should prepare his mind and heart to resist pride in every form, however small or insignificant the symptom may be. He should also learn to detect in himself pride in whatever form it appears, whether as envy, evil-speaking, stubbornness, touchiness, self-assurance, a know-it-all attitude, aspiration or ambition, spitefulness, vanity, hypocrisy, a proud look, or even a proud tone of voice. He will be better prepared to slay this adversary, who learns to recognize it upon sight. It is well to examine ourselves, and to ask ourselves regularly:

Do I fret and feel offense when my counsel and suggestions are ignored or set at naught?
Do I quickly challenge statements that underrate my abilities and impugn my goodness?
Do I feel great embarrassment when others, with less background, can answer questions that I cannot?
Do I feel indignant with faultfinders who point out my misdeeds?
Do I encourage compliments and praise?
Do I hasten to put people “In their place”?
Do I shun reproof and hate instruction, especially when it comes from the ‘less noble’ of the Lord’s people?
Do I belittle the deeds of others?

If our answers to any or all of these questions are in the affirmative, there is need of correction, for it could mean that there is a measure of pride in our hearts, which, if allowed to develop, could be damaging to us as Christians.

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