The book of Proverbs is not a book that gives us a list of wise actions that we need to follow. The book shows us how a wise man ought to behave. For example, a wise man is a man who is willing to be taught, not to teach. For wisdom is not a problem of talent and of the shallow matters. We have always discussed the characters of a wise man, for the wise would automatically behave in wisdom. In the modern times, we have this strange belief that in order to be a new someone, we need to have the knowledge of how-to: “If I you want me to be wise, then tell me how to be one!” Therefore, reading the book of Proverbs often frustrates us. But we need to think the other way: to be a new someone, we need to be aware and confess our inability to do it. Then, our frustrations become understandable.
Wisdom in the light of our eyes means that we need to know the how-tos. Whereas, wisdom is not something you can bring about by following steps. If we refuse to let go of this concept, and insist on our private wisdom (that is in fact now the true wisdom after all), then we will never be able to move on. According to the Proverbs 26:12, those who consider themselves wise, are fools. Today, we will discuss one of the aspects of wisdom, humility (our admission that we do not know how to be wise). In squeezing for the answer to the how-tos, you have considered yourself wise, because you consider yourself knowing that the way to be wise is to know the how-to. In admitting that you know not how to be wise, you are wise.
PROVERBS 11:12 : Pride is an Act of Comparison
The word belittle here, in the Hebrew language, this word does not only mean belittle, but also contempt and derision. Pride is not our happiness due to an event that occurred to us, but is our happiness that we own something that others do not.
CS Lewis in Mere Christianity compares between lust and pride. Both vices could cause a man to sleep with a woman. But lust still longs for the woman, where pride is to show the woman how attractive he is. In this case, the woman is not even the source of his enjoyment.
Pride and arrogance are shallow matters. In Indonesia, pride could also be translated as self-cost (we value ourselves to compare ourselves with others). This is not to be confused with self-value, for value is independent and there is no comparison in value. But there is always comparison in cost. Pride focuses on self-cost. Therefore, a man with low self-esteem often compares himself with others. Do we lose our good confidence because of our ugly appearance, or because we are uglier than others? Our dissatisfaction towards our salary is usually due to us comparing our salary with others of the same position. We do not seek a higher salary, but we waste our time so we do not become the least, and not to be a better employee.
The Building of the Tower of Babel by Hendrik van Cleve III |
PROVERBS 15:25 : Taking Over God’s Place
The book of Proverbs uses the word proud. Proud is translated into many words in the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs 15:25, the word used is ge’eh, which sounds like ga’ah. Ga’ah means exalted, which is only used in the context of God, such as in Exodus 15:1 (highly exalted). In contrast, ge’eh means to be prideful and is used in the context of men. This is both ironic and cynical. We love to use the terminologies often used for the context of God to describe humans: “Oh! He surely is a God of Knowledge!”
Secondly, the essence of pride is our desire to be like God. Pride in the spiritual aspect rejects the LORD as the LORD. But because we are incapable to be Godly, we continually seek for something: a matter or a person to be the basis of our own created fragile ego.
In John Calvin’s sensus divinitatis (sense of divinity), Calvin suggests that “there exists in the human mind and indeed by instinct, some sense of Deity [sensus divinitatis], we hold to be beyond dispute, since God himself, to prevent any man from pretending ignorance, has endued all men with some idea of his Godhead”. What then is the essence of the sense of divinity in the lives of men? Does this mean when we see a beautiful scenery, we will confess that there must be a God who creates nature? That is correct. But in Rome 1:18-19, Paul also discussed sensus divinitatis in the context of the rejection of God and the suppression of the Truth by the people. Perhaps, those who suppress the Truth does not acknowledge the existence of God, but they surely acknowledge the LORD through their pride. Arthur Miller, a Jewish-American playwright made a play about an atheistic lawyer. This lawyer claims that life is merely a court after another, where we ever strive to prove a case before the judge. When we were young, we must prove to our friends that we are more superior in intelligence; in our youth, that we are more attractive; in the adult life, that we are good husbands and parents, and how wise we are. And the judge said that he would become greatly depressed when he peeks the lawyer’s chair and no one is there. Why then must we constantly prove ourselves in our lives? To whom do we prove ourselves?
Sensus divinitatis is certainly present in this case. St. Augustine also suggested that "there is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.” Everybody lives the life of judgment and achievement, causing us to constantly look for others more inferior than us. People such as these are considered fools according to the Scripture (Rome 1:18-19).
Sensus divinitatis is certainly present in this case. St. Augustine also suggested that "there is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.” Everybody lives the life of judgment and achievement, causing us to constantly look for others more inferior than us. People such as these are considered fools according to the Scripture (Rome 1:18-19).