Strange Bedfellows

“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” (Pr 29:23 AV)

This seems contradictory only in the sense we tend to think of pride and honor as closely related, or even one and the same.  When someone carries himself with pride, he does so because he honors himself.  It might seem that honor is contrary to humility.  When we think of humility, we often think of the downtrodden.  Those who walk in such a way as to garner disrespect towards those walking in pride and honor.  However, Solomon touches on a finer distinction between pride and honor here.  Those who are humble can still have honor.  Honor can often be thought of as integrity.  The inner character will not allow the self to be degraded by faults and sin.  Integrity is that character trait that disciplines the self to refrain from evil at all costs and excel at good no matter what might come.  Pride, on the other hand, lacks discipline.  It may elevate the self but to its own destruction.  Humility does not require we be degraded by the arrogant.  Nor does it mean we must flagellate ourselves to walk in humility.  Honor and humility can comfortably co-exist.

One of my good friends comes to mind.  Pete was a Navy Corpsman assigned to a marine unit that saw combat.  Pete was married and had three kids.  Pete also served as a drill instructor for part of one tour.  During his remaining time with us, he was an instructor.  I was fascinated with military life.  I had neither the calling nor the courage to enlist, but I deeply admired those who did.  When I asked questions about his normal day’s duty, he would tell stories of how he handled recruits.  There were stories of students who needed discipline.  There were stories of him taking the class on a five-mile run.  There were stories of how he had to work with doctors and nurses and conflict resolution military-style.  It was Pete who invited me and my wife to witness his promotion ceremony to the rank of chief.  What a spectacle that was.  It was truly moving.  The thing about Pete, and almost all enlisted men and women I have had the pleasure of knowing, is they are the perfect example of honorable humility.  They know their place.  They understand officers have the responsibility of ordering them to comply.  However, there is never a time when they surrender their dignity.  When they carry out their orders, the greatest motive is honor.  When they carry themselves in public, there is a sense of honor.  When they interact with one another, there is a sense of honor.  There is a chain of command.  But that chain of command oozes with respect.  In both directions.  The enlisted for his commander and the commander for his men and women. 

Honor and humility can indeed dwell together.  Each gives the other the beauty they behold.  What drew me to this verse is the whole verse.  The warning that pride leads to a fall while honor upholds the humble.  Thinking we stand when we do not lead to a great fall.  Knowing how low we are and seeking to live up to a standard will only lead to stability and strength.  There is an element of humility with honor.  Honor requires deep sacrifice.  Pride only requires the sacrifice of others.  Humility requires an honest evaluation of self and a plan to overcome it.  That is honorable.  Pride sees no fault or explains away fault that the self does not need to address it.  Honor and humility go hand in hand.  So, do the honorable thing and live humbly with yourself, others, and Your God.