Wisdom is essential for achieving genuine success in life. King Solomon made that clear when he said: “Wisdom is the principal thing” (Proverbs 4:7a). But the path to wisdom is paved with humility. You can’t have wisdom without humility.
This is made abundantly clear in the Book of Proverbs:
- “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2, KJV)
- “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.” (Proverbs 14:3, KJV)
- “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18, KJV)
- “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” (Proverbs 29:23, KJV)
Seems pretty clear, right?
Unfortunately, in our modern world, humility is not highly valued.
The opposite of being humble is of course to be proud. And it’s a sad fact that, too often, the most boastful and flamboyant celebrities, social media personalities, and politicians get much more attention (and raving fans) than their quieter, more thoughtful, and more humble counterparts.
But pride isn’t just among the elite and the famous — or those who follow them. It’s pretty common throughout society. While many people may not see themselves as prideful, the truth is that pride is more common than we realize.
Pride can manifest in both overt and subtle ways. There are many people who harbor pride without even realizing it. One of the most common ways is self-centeredness. We see this, for example, in the obsession our culture has with self-identification and self-actualization — as if these pursuits are the keys to happiness.
And that leads me to one of my favorite songs…
Hillsong Church has had its problems. That’s probably a massive understatement. And many of my more conservative, Bible-based, evangelical readers have (understandable) objections to some of Hillsong’s teachings and practices, and…
Likewise, many don’t really jive with Hillsong’s music.
Nevertheless…
One of my absolute favorite songs is by Hillsong, and it’s appropriate to this point. That song is “Who You Say I Am.” You can watch the music video below…
The point of the song (and it’s something everyone needs to understand, accept, meditate upon, and adhere to) is…
You are who your Creator says you are.
Your identity, purpose, and self-image should all be centered on God and your relationship with Him.
Unfortunately, most people today are much more interested in how they see themselves — and then how other people see them. Hence, the mess our society is in and how people are so polarized, angry, divided, and easily offended and triggered over issues and questions concerning sex, identity, relationships, religion, and politics.
We’re a mess and it’s because our focus isn’t first and foremost on God. It’s too often on ourselves, and THAT (having too much focus on oneself) is pride!
And pride makes people stupid!
Psychologist David J. Lieberman puts it well when he says, “When the ego reigns, we are not drawn to what is good, but to what makes us look good.” This statement highlights the self-centered nature of pride, which drives us to seek self-glorification rather than genuine goodness.
The Bible warns that those who are driven by ego or consumed by pride will ultimately face shame instead of attaining true wisdom. Therefore, it’s important to reflect on our deepest motivations and ask ourselves: What truly drives us?
Yes, prideful people can have some success in life. They can be clever, creative, and even wise in some aspects of their personal or professional lives. But…
If you look closely at them, their lives and relationships are (in many ways) dysfunctional and turbulent.
And their success is often short-term or spotty.
If you want lasting, authentic, genuine, and meaningful success in most (preferably all) areas of your life, you need wisdom. And that means you need humility and self-awareness!
Embrace humility, cultivate self-awareness, and root out pride from your life. Doing so will open the door to genuine wisdom and a path to lasting success, peace of mind, and a God-pleasing life.
For further reading:
