Pride Goes Before A ...


King Solomon wrote, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” (Proverbs 16:18).  History shows an addendum to this proverb ... pride can also precede a foolish injury.  In his book, “Henry Clay:  The Essential American” David Heidler describes a time when the man who would later become known as “The Great Compromiser” initiated a duel with Humphrey Marshall.  What began as political differences eventually turned personal and on January 19, 1809 Clay and Marshall squared off to duel with pistols.  On the first shot, Clay escaped injury while Marshall was grazed.  This wasn’t good enough to abate each man’s ego, so they loaded and fired again ... this time Marshall missed and Clay’s gun misfired.  Still not satisfied, the duel finally ended after the third attempt when Clay missed, but Marshall struck Clay in the leg.  Nineteenth Century society might have called this “avenging a man’s honor”, but pride and arrogance almost cost two men their lives and our nation an influential figure. 
Civilized modern times looks back at dueling with disdain, but how many people have fallen victim to the destruction of pride?  Families have been dissolved because one spouse was too prideful to admit they were wrong.  Business partnerships have been ruined and employees have been laid-off because arrogance separated influential decision-makers.   Life-long friendships have been severed because pride was deemed to be more important than companionship.  Communities have suffered because lawmakers were unwilling to set aside their pride and work together for the common good.  Churches have split because “brethren” have been filled with enough pride to believe that their way was the only way.  Pride is a powerful intoxicant, one that has the tendency to overwhelm common sense. 
We must be willing to defend our principles, but there is a difference between being committed to a noble cause and being pridefully stubborn.  When Jesu’ ministry was challenged, He stuck to His principles, but He would not resort to giving in to pride.  Even when His detractors challenged Him as He hung on the cross by taunting, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” or “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:40, 42) He refused to yield to prideful temptation.
The earliest New Testament Christians were reminded, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:10).  Are we willing to allow God to work in and for us – even if it means that we have to endure personal attacks?  Let’s remember that we represent Him so He will provide us with our self-worth and He will defend our honor.

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