3/9/25 - Humbled or Humiliated: The Choice We Must Make - Proverbs 22:4 - Pastor Jason Fritz

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4 This Sunday, we will explore the themes of pride and humility as presented throughout the book of Proverbs. Scripture makes it clear that pride is a barrier to wisdom, while humility is the key to receiving instruction and growing in faith. Proverbs, along with passages from Matthew, James, and 1 Corinthians, reminds us that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be lifted up by God. The world encourages self-promotion and self-esteem, but the Bible calls us to place our confidence not in ourselves but in the Lord. Pride is often deceptive, showing up in subtle ways, including the self-help movement’s emphasis on self-importance. However, studies show that those who believe themselves superior to others are often the most violent and prejudiced. In other words, we have too much self-esteem. Scripture warns us that pride leads to destruction, as seen in Satan’s fall, while humility leads to grace, wisdom, and true greatness. True humility is not self-deprecation but rather a recognition that our talents, abilities, and even our very lives are gifts from God. We don’t need more self-esteem; we need more gospel-esteem - the understanding that our worth comes from Christ’s love and sacrifice, not our own achievements. As we prepare our hearts for Sunday, let’s reflect on how God is calling us to walk in humility. Are there areas of pride we need to confess? Is there someone we need to seek forgiveness from or extend grace to? When we humble ourselves before God, we open our lives to His blessings and wisdom. Let’s embrace the posture of a disciple, coming before God with a heart that says, “Teach me. Help me adopt the humility of Jesus in what I say and do.”