Walking with the Wise #397: The Humility of the Holy

“’Scoffer’ is the name of the arrogant, haughty man

who acts with arrogant pride.”
—Proverbs 21:24

The “scoffer” in today’s proverb is an “arrogant haughty man” whose character is one of pride and pompousness (cf. 21:4) and whose life is antithetical to that of the Christian. “Arrogant pride” can be translated “fury of pride” or “excessive pride,” which describes one who cannot control his mouth, but is continually boasting of who he is, what he has done, and is always looking down on those around him. Such a man is unwilling to learn (cf. 21:11, 19:25) or help others. He is corrupt and bereft of compassion or humility and only wants to flaunt his ability—the exact opposite of the behavior a Christian is to exemplify. As the Bible says,

“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night”
—Psalm 1:1-2.

The Christ-life is one of humility and self-denial. It is the fallen flesh and worldliness that is at the root of the scoffer’s pride, as John warned us against:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever”—1 John 2:15-17.

Instead of scoffing and pride, our lives should be characterized by humility and pure words—honest, sincere, and filled with love and permeated with truth. How would you characterize your words? Are you a scoffer, caring not for anyone’s opinions but your own? If so, run to the feet of the Savior and humble yourself before Him! May we become servants of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who...

“…though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”—Philippians 2:6-7.

May we humble ourselves, put on the mind of Christ, and live in such a way that inspires and encourages others to surrender their lives and follow Jesus in wholehearted and unshakeable faith. Amen.