Everyone loves to have Pete show up. He makes you feel good about yourself. The problem is, when Pete comes, Danny isn’t far behind. Danny leaves you feeling discouraged, like a loser. We love Pete but don’t invite him because Danny will surely follow.

I thought of that scenario recently when I read:
Proverbs 11:2.
When pride comes,
then comes disgrace.
But with humility comes wisdom.

Pride and disgrace are traveling buddies.
Humility and wisdom are also traveling buddies.

If I invite Pete Pride to the party – into my life – I can be sure Danny Disgrace will soon be knocking on the door. In the same way, if I walk through my day accompanied by Humility, I am told that Wisdom will join the party, too.

Every day, I need to regularly check to see who is walking beside me. It’s important to have the right companion because I know who will join us. Pride will bring Disgrace along. Humility will attract Wisdom. And Proverbs 3 says when Wisdom is along many other wonderful traveling buddies show up too, including long life, riches, honor, peace, and blessing.

Solomon thought this lesson was so important that he stated it another way a couple of chapters later.

Proverbs 13:20
Walk with the wise and become wise,
a companion of fools suffers harm.

Notice, I don’t have to be a fool to suffer harm. I just need to hang out with fools and harm will soon pay me a visit. In the same way, I don’t have to be very wise, just wise enough to hang around wise people, and I will grow in wisdom.

Have you seen this principle in your life?
Samson did. Saul did. Nebechaddnezer did. Haman did. I’ll bet you can name a few examples of people alive today who have experienced it, too. Sure enough, Pride and Disgrace still travel together. But, so do Humility and Wisdom.

So, who are you walking with today?
As for me and my house, …….
___________________________
Proverbs 29:23
Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
Proverbs 18:12
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Luke 14:11
For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.