Proverbs 29:23

The arrogance of people causes them to fall; but a lowly spirit holds glory tight.

Humility is valuable for the wisdom enterprise because it depends on a teachable spirit. Wisdom is not a natural trait that needs to be preserved in a human. Folly is natural; wisdom must be inculcated. To do so, people need to be open to criticism of their words and behavior. They hear and change. On the other hand, because of pride fools will resist criticism, even mocking those who try to help them in this way. The results are clear. The proud are doomed to repeat their mistakes and end up falling, while the humble will gain glory.

-Tremper Longman III

Proverbs 29:25

Anxiety about people is a trap, but those who trust Yahweh are protected.

Those who trust in YHWH have nothing to fear from any person.

Perfect love casts out fear. 

Don’t fear those who can only kill the body, but Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

One who fears God does not fear human beings. Do we really fear God? Or is it a mental concept only?

Sometimes I wonder if, in our Western Christianity, we fear death too much. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Perhaps this is not real to us. Perhaps deep down, we do think that this life is all there is.

In God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? [Ps.56:11]

Anxiety about people is a trap that even the most religious can fall into, and it is a hard one to get out of.

Luke 16:1-13

The parable of the unfaithful, but clever steward.

The moral of this story seems to be to use our possessions to serve people and further God’s kingdom rather than simply accommodate ourselves and make our lives more and more comfortable.

We are only God’s managers of anything we have.