Proverbs 16:16-21 The Message
16 Get wisdom—it’s worth more than money;
choose insight over income every time.
17 The road of right living bypasses evil;
watch your step and save your life.
18 First pride, then the crash—
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
19 It’s better to live humbly among the poor
than to live it up among the rich and famous.
20 It pays to take life seriously;
things work out when you trust in God.
21 A wise person gets known for insight;
gracious words add to one’s reputation.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
I would describe today’s proverbs as “general proverbs” that offer counsel to those who desire the best of life.
Proverbs 16:16 states a value system that runs contrary to the world.
Proverbs 16:16 – “How much better [precious; pleasant; favorable] is it to get [acquire] wisdom [godly wisdom; spiritual discernment] than gold! and to get understanding [knowledge] rather to be chosen [selected] than silver!”
It is the fallen nature of man to pursue temporal riches over eternal rewards.
In the same way Eve was tantalized by forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6), mankind lusts after gold and silver, diamonds and rubies and pearls of greatest quality.
Matthew 13:45-46 The Message
45-46 “Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for exquisite pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.
Let’s take a practical approach to verse 16, consider its application to our lives.
What is the “end goal” of your life and daily pursuits?
Are we numbered among those poor souls who rise from bed, go to work and pursue gold, pearls and silver with little, if any thought of God, the eternal destiny of your soul?
King Solomon challenged his son to learn that his pursuit of godly wisdom, understanding, insight and discernment were of far greater value than all of those temporal possessions of gold and silver and pearls and precious gems.
Proverbs 16:17 – “The highway [course; way; path] of the upright [just; righteous] is to depart [turn] from evil [sin; wickedness]: he that keepeth [guard; watch] his way [journey; course of life] preserveth [guard; put a hedge about] his soul.”
Men instinctively, impulsively pursue many highways and byways and winding paths and dirt roads in life; however, only one path, one way keeps, preserves a man’s eternal soul—that way is through Jesus Christ and Him alone. (John 14:6)
Solomon warned his son there are ways and paths men take that seem right and prefect to them; however, recall “the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).
There are many religions, but only one way.
John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The way of the upright is to turn from sin, trust Jesus Christ as Savior, the Only Begotten Son of God crucified for our sin, buried raised from the dead by God, the Father on the third day.
Proverbs 16:18-19 – “Pride [arrogance] goeth before destruction [calamity; breach in an ocean wall], and an haughty [proud; self-sufficient] spirit before a fall [ruin]. 19 Better [pleasing; good as pure gold] it is to be of an humble [low; modest] spirit with the lowly [humble means, weak, meek], than to divide [apportion; distribute] the spoil [plunder; booty] with the proud [arrogant].”
Pride and humility are the subject of Proverbs 16:18-19.
Pride, that spirit of self-sufficiency independent of one’s Creator, sows the seeds of self-destruction.
Pride precedes calamity and a “haughty spirit” is too proud to seek counsel and too pre-occupied with self to look to the end of its way.
Arrogance is the complete opposite of humility.
Humility means to have a modest view of one’s own importance.
But when someone has an over-inflated opinion of himself or herself, they will often act out in an overbearing way.
That is called arrogance, which is always an irritating unattractive quality.
Did you know for every 100 successful people, there is maybe one who can deal with great success and keep his/her head on straight?
The temptation to give into prideful arrogance is huge.
Arrogance and pride are one and the same!
So how can people blessed with success not be overcome with pride?
- Gratitude: Remember all good things come from God: this includes your talents, abilities, and opportunities.
- Humility: There’s really no such thing as a self-made man. Every successful person had some help along the way. It’s important to remember the journey.
- Self-Awareness: The people with the biggest pride problems often don’t recognize that they have a problem. It’s an inability to self-reflect and identify their areas of growth or weakness; this attitude can stunt personal growth.
- Pursue Christ-likeness: We are most like the Devil when we are filled with arrogant pride. We are most like Jesus when we are fulfilling God’s will for God’s glory.
If you are struggling with arrogant pride, ask God for forgiveness.
Ask Him to help you leave pride behind and learn to walk in gratitude, and in humility, to become more self-aware as you pursue a life walking with Christ.
It might not happen overnight, it most certainly won’t always be an easy road, but you’ll be a better person for it.
Then as the world around you starts to take notice, you’ll have a great platform to point toward your relationship with Jesus.
There’s no time like the present to begin.
As Jesus’ earthly life set the standard for Christians: It is far better to live by humble means than share the lifestyle of the wicked who divide the spoil of ill-gotten gain among themselves with little to no thought of God’s justice.
In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Praying ….
Psalm 1 The Message
1 How well God must like you—
you don’t walk in the ruts of those blind-as-bats,
you don’t stand with the good-for-nothings,
you don’t take your seat among the know-it-alls.
2-3 Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.
4-5 You’re not at all like the wicked,
who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
unfit company for innocent people.
6 God charts the road you take.
The road they take leads to nowhere.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 