The scripture for today, November 2 (11/2), is Proverbs 11:2 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
The word “disgrace” comes from Hebrew qalon meaning confusion. It is also translated dishonor and reproach.
Pride is so hard to control. With the church or clubs or other organizations, we think our ideas, our points of view, our ways of doing things are the right ideas views and ways. We accuse others of not cooperating if something is our ideas, views, and ways they don’t go along with. It is so hard to give up our ideas views and ways for the sake of peace.
Even in doing daily business, our pride shows up. We become impatient with clerks in stores who do not help us, with other drivers on the road who are too slow or fast for us, with people delivering things to our homes who do not deliver them right to our door, with kids throwing rocks at things that belong to us, people who try to cut in line ahead of us, fellow workers who take credit for our work, and on and on.
It is hard to sit by and let others be praised when we do better work than they do, or we work harder than they do, or they get the promotion we deserve.
How do we control our pride? Perhaps by comparing ourselves, not with others around us, but with Jesus. In the same circumstance, what did he do?
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”