Proverbs 16:19
It
there is one thing that proverbs emphasizes it is that pride gets people in
trouble with God. The writer of this proverb captures that truth in a very poignant
manner. He puts it in terms that most people can understand. I am thankful for
that!
Pride
is such a hated thing with God, that the writer places it in the context of
defeat by an enemy army. Unlike what the Allies did for Germany and Japan after
WWII, most militaries humiliate their enemies when they are defeated. To put it
into modern terms, they rub their noses in it! They are reminded constantly
that they were the ones defeated. Their rights and privileges are removed. They
become second-class members of society. They become servants of the new rules.
Our
proverb says that it is better to be part of the defeated people than to be
proud. It is better to live with and be oppressed than to be proud. Some people
know this and choose to become a traitor rather than suffer after their defeat.
They don’t want to live without, so they sell out to the enemy. They abandon
their principles and take the easy route. They give up and settle for short-term
gain.
Our
proverb says it is better to be with the oppressed than with the proud, better
to be in want than to share the plunder. Sometimes I wish my grown children had
a little bit more money so that they wouldn’t have to struggle as much. But I
don’t want them to compromise their godly principles in the process.
Pride
is such a debilitating spiritual condition. It makes it impossible for us to
accept help from others. We are too good for that! So we can’t even accept God’s
help. We reject His work on the Cross which requires humility to receive. We
might not suffer with the oppressed in this life, but our day is coming.
It
can be hard to reject the plunder, all that free stuff. But remember that it
comes at a very high price.