Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
I was reflecting with my wife last night about how up until I was 50 I was planning on living forever and then after turning 50 I began to plan as if I was going to die any moment. Â Part of this paradigm shift in my thinking was due to the tragic loss of one of my best friends in life a couple of months after I turned 50. Â Joe’s death was a wake up call for me and after he passed I began to inventory various aspects of my life. Â I reflected on what parts of me needed fixed and improved, where I could be of most benefit to the world, what my family would need from me during my final 50, what things on my bucket list I needed to get taken care of. Â I searched in my heart for areas I was not letting go, not forgiving, not mending.
I love the Proverb above and every month on the 11th day of the month, when I read it, I pause and reflect and ask myself how I’m doing. Â My goal is to be 100% humble in all situations and receive more wisdom as a by-product. Â My competitive spirit and driven focus for achievement always creates a challenge for me to replace pride with humility, but I’m getting there….I am thinking I am a little over 52% there (my birthday is 1/27/59). 🙂
I know there are a lot of young people who read my blog and although I have hours of words of “wisdom” I would love to share with you; the one thing I am most passionate about and know personally is pride left unattended, will eventually destroy you as well as your relationships with others and the world. Â Humility when stoked will eventually strengthen you and your relationships with others and the world.
With humility comes wisdom and wisdom is from the Lord. I know many knowledgeable people with very little wisdom. Â Knowledge, in the absence of pride turns into wisdom. Â Knowledge in the presence of humility (God) turns into wisdom. Â Knowledge is knowing what to do and wisdom is doing it.
If you would like to know where you stand on the pride/humility scale ask yourself these questions:
- Am I holding onto a resentment?
- Is there someone I need to forgive?
- Is there someone I need to make amends to?
- Do I find myself comparing myself to others?
- Do I often give an opinion without having all the facts?
- Do I often feel as though I am in battle with the world around me?
- Do I pick “fights” when there are no fights to pick?
- Am I stuck in the past?
- Do I view seeking help from others as a weakness?
- When good things happen, who do you give the credit to, you or God?
