When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2 (ESV)

We have all heard the saying, “Pride comes before the fall.” It comes from a saying from Jesus in Luke 14:11 where he says, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” In God’s eyes, pride makes a person look foolish and will ultimately lead to his fall. Wisdom comes from the fear of the Lord, which comes from faith and humility. Wisdom and humility go hand-in-hand. Pride is putting yourselves ahead of others, but humility is putting others before yourself. Being humble is wise, because it draws wisdom from God’s teachings and commandments.

We all need to show less pride and more humility in our actions. We can gain wisdom by serving others and putting their needs before ours. Humility will help us stand back to see what kind of actions we need to take in order to make wise decisions. Looking at the example Jesus left us in the gospels will help us understand that being humble is wise.

When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, it displayed both humility and wisdom at the same time. It showed humility, because he took care of them by acting as a servant. It showed wisdom, because the disciples learned from his actions what it means to be a true follower of God. Jesus perfectly demonstrated how we can draw wisdom from humility. The humble are already rewarded with wisdom because of their willingness to receive God’s grace and gifts.

This week, pray about how you can make wise decisions by being humble toward others. Let your humility display the wisdom of God, so those around you can see God’s true love.