Greater Riches of God

June 24th, 2025

Proverbs 16:13-20

Many of us have heard Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” We may not have even known that it was from Proverbs. The idea is that if we think too highly of ourselves, it will be to our own downfall.

What we haven’t heard as frequently, or at all, is the verse immediately after it, verse 19: “Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” Both verses speak to the importance of humility; the first talks about the downfall of those who lack humility, while the second gives us an example of what humility in action looks like.

Humility means being united with those who are oppressed. It means to serve those who are desperate and in need. It means to not view yourself more highly than you ought, which doesn’t mean putting yourself down, but raising up others, for we are all beloved in the eyes of God.

We should share in the greater riches of God that come from joining the oppressed in humility.

Author: Robbie Cansler