I chuckled when I recently saw a commentary on this verse which stated, “Where there is pride in the heart, and no wisdom in the head to suppress it….” I know, I have an unusual sense of humor. But, I can picture someone saying that a person essentially lacks enough sense to tell themselves when to shut up and quit bragging. As a matter of fact I see people on social media who try and wrap their self praise in some type of moral lesson for others. It is pretty ridiculous and even sad. Pride is a dangerous beast. Ungoverned by God’s Spirit it leads to all kinds of disastrous outcomes. I’m pretty sure that pride has never led to a single positive outcome. Solomon’s use of the term ‘lashes out’ is appropriate as well. When pride is unleashed on the lives around the prideful it can feel somewhat like taking a beating. It is oppressive, demanding, self serving and ugly. No one enjoys being in the presence of the prideful. The innocence of a child who is proud when praised can be fun to watch. A prideful adult is just painful. Today practice the humility of one who understands the good we do can powerfully reflect the creator we serve and let’s be humbly proud to be His. #BeTheEdge
“This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV
