“They say that pride comes before a fall. Looks like nobody told that to Haman.” (Veggie Tales: Esther, the Girl Who Became Queen © 2000 Big Idea Productions, Inc.)
As I read chapter 3 on pride and humility in Rachel Olsen’s It’s No Secret, I could hear the narrator’s voice in my head saying this line from the Veggie Tales movie, Esther. The movie and the line “pride comes before a fall” are forever linked in my memory. If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s a less violent version of the Old Testament book of Esther.
I have to confess that for years, I thought “pride comes before a fall” was in the book of Esther. It’s actually in the book of Proverbs. I never looked it up—until a few days ago when I read chapter 3 and thought about the movie. That led me down a road of interesting research, a few bits of which I’d like to share with you in today’s blog.
The book of Proverbs has quite a bit to say about pride. I find the different Bible translations interesting.
Proverbs 16:18
NIV - “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
The Message - “First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.”
Proverbs 11:2
NIV - “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
NLT - “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
The Message – “The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.”
Proverbs 13:10
NLT – “Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.”
NIV – “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
The Message – “Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord, but wise men and women listen to each other's counsel.”
Pride keeps my focus on myself, while humility takes my focus off of myself. Humility is thinking less about myself, not to be confused with thinking less of myself. Humility is thinking about God and others more than I think about myself.
I really like what my NLT Study Bible has to say on pride and humility…
“Humility is demonstrated when a person recognizes a mistake, listens to another’s correction, and learns life’s lessons. It is hard for the proud to accept this discipline. Pride puts self first and does not allow the cracks and flaws to show in public. However, truly humble people acknowledge that others have something to teach them about life.” (NLT Study Bible, © 2008 Tyndale House Publishers)
What are your thoughts on pride and humility? Was there something you learned in this chapter or through your own research that you’ll share with us?
In case you’re wondering what happened that day with me and the Esther movie…I dug out our old VHS tape. I wanted to watch it and my daughter asked if she could watch it with me. I like that she’s still young enough to think it was fun and not roll her eyes at me. J
Please post your comments by clicking below…
In Christ,
Laura
