Proverbs 18:12
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour
is humility.
Destruction or honor is a choice. Pride guarantees destruction, and humility brings honor.
This is no mere philosophical speculation about the dangers of arrogance and pride. This
is inspired wisdom of the certain consequences of not humbling yourself before God and
men. The law here is more certain than gravity. If you think highly of yourself, you are
going much lower (16:18). If you think lowly of yourself, you will be raised (15:33).
Do not deceive yourself! You cannot stop this rule from affecting your life. If you are
arrogant, haughty, or proud, you are going down. If you choose to humble yourself before
God and men, you will be honored. The warning is certain. If you think you can avoid
these consequences, your pride is already pushing you rebelliously to destruction. You
can be pounded until you are as small as dust, or you can be promoted with a blessing.
There are three forces at work to guarantee this two-sided law. First, there is the divine
force of God’s jealousy and justice. The blessed Lord will not allow a man to think too
highly of himself. He hates pride (6:16-17). And He especially hates pride in sinful men.
He will supernaturally bring a proud man down, or He will lift a humble man up.
Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not
the LORD, neither will I let Israel go” (Ex 5:2). Of course, those were his famous last
words, as God destroyed his nation, assets, firstborn, chariot, and then him! God
irresistibly imposed His sovereign will on that man and brought him down to destruction.
But consider another king. Solomon said, “And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made
thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to
go out or come in” (I Kgs 3:7). Here is great humility, as the young king freely admitted
his ignorance. God gave him wisdom, riches, peace, and long life for this humble prayer!
Second, there is the human force of man’s judgment. Even natural men cannot stand an
arrogant man, a haughty or proud man. They will do what they can to avoid him, reject
him, or take him down. They are angered by his pompous attitude and cocky spirit. But
they are quite happy to promote and reward a man who humbly confesses he is nothing.
Third, there is the personal force of self-deceit. A haughty man cannot see clearly. His
excessive confidence causes him to make bad decisions. He rushes ahead in hasty zeal
only to find that his pride caused him to miss a serious danger. But a humble man, not
trusting himself very far, will analyze matters thoroughly before acting.
Pride was the sin of the devil (I Tim 3:6). Because of his pride, God reserved the lowest
place in the universe for him – the depths of hell! He will suffer eternal destruction and
the most frightful torments forever! Humility was the glorious character of Jesus of
Nazareth, Whom God has highly exalted above every creature forever (Phil 2:5-11).
Examine yourself! Hate any lofty thought! Tell the Lord and any who will hear that you
are nothing and less than nothing, and do it sincerely! Tell the Lord you are a little child
needing His help for the simplest tasks. Get off your high horse and get down with those
the world despises as lower class (Rom 12:16). Stop protecting yourself and sheltering
yourself! Go down, and He will raise you up! Lift yourself up, and He will crush you!
“God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (I Pet 5:5-6).
