Foolish Pride

 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than him.     
Proverbs 26:12

We all get a little smug from time to time. Whether it is making the game winning score at the last second, being awarded that well-deserved prestigious recognition at work or baking the best dessert for the party, we all enjoy admiration. But we must be careful that we do not allow the glow of admiration to morph into pride and conceit.

Solomon spent the first eleven verses of Chapter 26 describing how painful it is to be associated with a fool The he goes for the slam dunk – “You think a fool is bad? Just wait until I tell you about a conceited man!”

We all have met them – the one with a smirk on his face and a long nose so that he can look down on you. And then he opens his mouth! The only time he stops bragging about himself is to catch his breath! Jesus provides us an excellent example in the parable of Pharisee and Publican praying in the temple (Luke 18:9-14).

So how do we prevent ourselves from becoming the obnoxious, conceited individual? By recognizing from where our blessings flow. It is through God’s grace and blessings that we are able to do anything. When we humble ourselves and thank him for the talents and gifts he has bestowed upon us, we will put conceit where it belongs – out in the cold! Then we can reap the reward promised by Jesus inLuke 18:14(b):

“For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”