PRIDE GOETH…
KEY SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 16:18 ~ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (KJV)
Years ago as a single mother, I got custody of my sister’s two small children. I already had my own daughter who was only a bit older than they, so needless to say, things were VERY tight financially! Then, my other sister, (who had previously worked for the welfare office,) told me I could get financial assistance.
Immediately my pride kicked in, my nose stuck up, my chin stuck out, and I said, “No way! I don’t need any handouts! I can make it on my own!”
After a few short months however, I began to realize I actually could NOT make it on my own after all. I was going down… fast… and I did NOT want that!!! All I could hear echoing in my mind was, “Pride goeth before a fall… Pride goeth before a fall… Pride goeth before a fall…”
So, finally, I lowered my snootiness, swallowed my pride, called my sister who had told me about the financial assistance, and asked her explain it to me again. She said it was financial assistance for people who were helping family members, and she walked me through the process of getting the help I needed. (She’s awesome.) It wasn’t much, and while we were still living on the ragged edge, it did help keep me from going OVER the edge!
Looking back, had I NOT gotten that help… I honestly don’t know what would have happened. But, I do know it would NOT have been good!
Sometimes we need to swallow our pride, humble ourselves and ask for the help we know, (even if it’s only deeeeep down that we know!) we need. This can be excruciatingly difficult.
Especially for those of us who have a LOT of pride, (that would be me!) are fiercely independent, (uhhhm, that’s me, too!) and HATE asking ANYONE for ANYTHING! (Me again!) But, I KNOW I’m not the only one like this…right?!
The thing I had to tell (and keep reminding) myself was that a helping hand could be a hand UP if I used it for more than just a hand OUT.
More importantly, being humbled and going through experiences like this can not only help us to better understand (and therefore have compassion for) others when they’re in similar circumstances, but it may also pave the way for us to eventually be in a position where we are the one able to offer a helping hand up to someone else who is hurting… even if what is hurting the most is their pride. Just like us.
The good old King James Bible version says, “Pride goeth before a fall”… which The Message Bible translates as, “First pride, then the crash…”
I’d like for my pride to “goeth” BEFORE I fall, please! How about you?!
SCRIPTURES
Proverbs 16:18 ~ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (KJV)
Proverbs 16:18 ~ First pride, then the crash—
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. (MSG)
2 Corinthians 1:4 ~ …who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (AMP)