With pride comes shame

“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” - Proverbs 11v2

Pride must surely be the source of all sin. Pride always has its roots in looking at self first. Men tend to think of themselves more highly than they ought to think. It is one of the most difficult battles to face, for each one of us carries it around inside us.

In this passage there is a practical application of the danger of pride. In fact, there may even be a pragmatic application. “When pride comes, shame will follow.” Jesus gives the illustration of coming into a feast. He warns us not to take the best seat, for if you do you might be sent to a lower seat.

Shame will always follow pride. Eventually pride will bring embarrassment. We are much better off to learn the lesson of the last part of the verse, “There is wisdom in being humble.” When we are humble it is like the other half of the illustration. The best thing to do is to take a lower seat at the feast so that you can be invited up to a better seat.
It is wonderful that God not only instructs us, but He makes His truth practical and appealing to us. Let’s never be guilty of taking the best seat so that we are not embarrassed. Indeed, when pride comes it will be followed by shame.