Warning!

One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.       –  Proverbs 29:23

Cassius Clay, who later changed his name to Mohammed Ali, was a renowned boxer in the 1960s and 1970s. He was known for fancy footwork and his “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” description of his fighting style. In his 61 matches, he lost only 5. No wonder he acclaimed himself to be “The Greatest.” His later life was ravaged by Parkinson’s syndrome, which would ultimately take his life. Destination magazine quotes him as saying, “This is a trial from God. He gave me this illness to remind me that I am not number one. He is.” Although a convert to Islam, his words spoke of God, not Allah. 

King Solomon had every human reason to be prideful. He had wisdom, power, wealth, and far too many women. Solomon had also been warned by the Lord that pride could be his downfall, and he writes of it often in Proverbs. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). Later in his life, he allowed his relationships with foreign women to turn his heart away from the Lord, which angered God. Solomon ruled over the “golden age” of the Israeli kingdom but, after his death, his son rebelled against his early advice, and the kingdom became divided just as God warned Solomon it would (1 Kings 11:9-13, 30-34). 

Heed the warning and humble yourself before the Lord! Arrogance due to education and achievements, or other self-congratulation over accomplishments ignores that God established His plans for you. Whatever worth you have is His gift to you (James 1:17). Jesus said the greatest are those who serve and, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-15). Allow the Holy Spirit to affirm your dignity as he teaches you to be humble. Pray for greater humility among America’s public “servants.”