Recently, I had the opportunity to hear Bob Goff speak. He said several one-liners that have stuck with me. I have been mulling over this statement: “Would you rather be right or would you rather be humble?”

The obvious ‘right’ answer, the godly answer of course is: I’d rather be humble.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:10
The desired answer is: I’d rather be humble.
But would I? Would you? … Really?

Consider the alternative.
Proud: having or showing the attitude of people who think that they are better or more important than others : having or showing too much pride
“…God opposes the proud…” James 4:6
Haughty: having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people
“…Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,…” Proverbs 18:12
Arrogant: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one’s own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner; showing an offensive attitude of superiority
“…Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure…” Psalm 101:5

Do any of those describe you? Proud? Haughty? Arrogant?
Is there anything wrong with being right? Not at all, but being right can go hand in hand with pride, especially when it is our practice to persuade others that we are right. Isn’t that how arguments are birthed? Each party is convinced they are right.

“Would you rather be right or would you rather be humble?

Humble: : not proud : not thinking of yourself as better than other people; given or said in a way that shows you do not think you are better than other people; showing that you do not think of yourself as better than other people

“For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” Psalm 149:4

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick. In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events. She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John over 28 years. She has 2 adult children, 3 grandchildren, 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all. She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.

i http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proud accessed 5.21.14
ii http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haughty accessed 5.21.14
iii http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrogant accessed 5.21.14
iv http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humble accessed 5.21.14