"Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."
Proverbs 16:19
“Better it is to be of an humble spirit.”
To have a humble spirit is far better than being proud. This proverb compares the “inward fact of humility,” and the “outward dividing of spoil.”[1] Here’s another place in the Word of God that shows us the importance of our inner man being right. It is the heart that is important here over the showy external way the world would live. The issue of the heart trumps how the world lives. When our heart is right, so will our actions be right. When our heart is out of sorts, arrogant and willful, this is always reflected in our attitudes and actions. The Lord helps humble individuals.
“He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away” (Luke 1:51-53).
“With the lowly.”
We are in this together. The lowly-humble, are not only individuals with needs but also a group who have chosen to be different than the proud. On which side are you, where do you align yourself, with the arrogant, or with the humble? This one thought may revolutionize your entire life. It changes our thinking, as well as our expectations. The lowly do not make demands, they humbly ask. The humble are unassuming, whereas the proud expect to be treated differently, for they think they are better than all others. Humble people believe as the wise do in that they understand their need for God’s working in their lives daily.
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).
“Than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
Proud evil men dream up an incredible number of ways to deprive others of their hard-earned income. We hear nearly daily of some new hoax that is designed to take people’s money. The proud perpetrators of these acts share their ill-gotten gain with others who are in on their devious plans. Rest assured, according to the Scriptures, their pride will destroy them eventually. Do not be fascinated with their wealth, fame, or power. Things will end badly for them.
“It is better to live lowly, i.e., with a mind devoid of earthly pride…, among men who have experience of the vanity of earthly joys, than, intoxicated with pride, to enjoy oneself amid worldly wealth and greatness”[2] (Keil and Delitzsch).
Let’s let the Scriptures prioritize our thinking for us:
“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked” (Psalm 37:16).
“He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch” (Proverbs 11:28).
“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches” (Proverbs 13:7).
“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life” (Proverbs 22:4).
Our Lord will always take care of our needs.
Quote: “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man”[3] (C.S. Lewis).
[1] Keil & Delitzsch, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Keil & Delitzsch, ibid.
[3] C.S. Lewis (1996). “Joyful Christian”, p.164, Simon, and Schuster.