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✍🏾The Wisdom of Solomon on Humility and Pride
The wise King Solomon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke many times in the book of Proverbs about the danger of pride and the blessing of humility. He teaches us that pride brings a person low, while humility lifts them up before God.
When speaking of God’s favor toward the humble, Solomon wrote, “Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34). This reveals that the proud are far from God, but the humble receive His mercy and grace.
He also teaches that pride is always followed by shame, saying, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). The humble heart is teachable, and through humility, one receives understanding from God.
Further, Solomon explains that honor is found in humility, declaring, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility” (Proverbs 15:33). True honor does not come from human praise, but from God, who exalts the lowly.
He also warns that pride leads to downfall: “Before destruction, the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility” (Proverbs 18:12). The proud man falls because his heart is lifted above measure, but the humble man is lifted by God’s hand.
When teaching about the rewards of humility, he says, “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).
He also counsels us to avoid self-praise, saying, “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2). The humble person does not seek human approval, but the favor of God, who sees the heart.
Finally, Solomon concludes with this wisdom: “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). This teaches that humility is the path to true exaltation, while pride leads only to ruin.
✍🏾For Theirs Is the Kingdom of Heaven”
The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are poor in spirit. God grants eternal life to those who humble themselves and depend wholly upon Him. Our Lord teaches in the Gospel:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:19–21)
Those who are poor in spirit do not seek earthly treasures that fade away, but store up treasures in heaven through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Their hearts are not attached to worldly riches, but to the grace of God.
As a witness to this truth, the Lord gives us the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19–31). Lazarus, though poor and despised on earth, was rich in humility and faith. Because of this, he was received into Abraham’s bosom in heaven. The rich man, however, though wealthy in possessions, was proud and unmerciful, and for this he was condemned.
It was not Lazarus’s material poverty that made him righteous, but his humility of heart. Likewise, it was not the rich man’s wealth that condemned him, but his pride and hardness of heart.
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