One chokes out wisdom, the other makes space for wisdom.

There is always a wrestling match going on in our hearts and minds – that between pride and humility. That between us thinking we know what’s best, and us knowing we need help and guidance – with the truest guidance being from God.

Proverbs often compares pride and humility, saying things like:

"Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." Proverbs 18:12

"One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor." Proverbs 29:23

The reason is this – pride chokes out and space for wisdom to dwell. It does this because we don’t think we need any help, any guidance, and we’ve got things on our own – we’re good. But humility realizes just how much help and guidance we need. Even if we feel capable at “living life” we still realize we could do it so much better and more in line with what God intended, so as we humble ourselves, we actually make space for wisdom to dwell in our lives.

As we do this, wisdom will naturally lead us to life, because Solomon keeps referring to 2 paths in Proverbs – the path of understanding and wisdom, which leads to life, and the path of folly and foolishness, which leads to death. And if your soul cries out for life and longs to live – then making space in our lives through humbly seeking God and following His ways is what helps us to stay on the path which will lead us to life.

When it comes down to it – pride is simply ignoring God’s guidance for living life as He intended, and when we do that wisdom can’t guide us, but humility opens our hearts up to first acknowledge we don’t know everything and helps us rely on the God who created everything.

Pastor Steve