“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” I’ve been thinking about that verse lately. It’s from Proverbs 3:34 and is quoted in James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. Of course, my thoughts go immediately to the second half of the verse, God giving grace to perfectly humble me. Or as my buddy put it the other day when we were up front in the Temple, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evil-doers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’” (Luke 18:11-5)
Deep things for thought are in the first half of the verse, “God opposes the proud.” Please follow me on this. The first commandment says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” What might I love more than God? Answer: wonderful me! Like the Pharisee in the temple, I am basically self-righteous. But “God opposes the proud.” Now comes God opposing wonderful me. Romans 2:15 teaches that God put His Law, what He demands of us, is in everyone’s heart, whether we recognize that or not. God goes after our self-righteous love of self. When people show us our short-comings, life pummels us, our conscience doesn’t always rest easy, we feel guilty, we feel afraid, on and on, God is accusing us through the Law He planted deep in our being. “You’re not as great as you think you are.” “In all things God works for good” includes the things in life that cut us down to size. Maybe that’s why Peter says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may life you up in due time.” God’s hand can feel very mighty. “God opposes the proud.”
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14) I need to learn a few things from that humble guy. Maybe I can catch him on my way out of the Temple. Being up front, thinking myself closer to God because I imagine I’m basically good, it takes longer for me to get out…and it’s a longer way to go home justified.
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