Proverbs 3.33-35
“The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.”
Once again, we are told that the Lord’s blessing is on the obedient, and his curse is on the wicked. God gives grace to the humble, but he opposes the arrogant and hard-hearted.
The linkage here is that violence comes from arrogance. This is true whether the violence is physical, emotional, or verbal. Violent people are arrogant people, and the authority for what they say and do is how they feel. They do not submit their emotions or actions to the Lord.
People who trust God and pursue wisdom are humble; they submit their emotions and actions to the Lord and his standards. They still feel the impulses, but they follow their faith, not their feelings.
In time, those who are wise and humble and who follow the Lord will inherit honor and the blessings of the kingdom. Those who are foolish and refuse to follow God will experience disgrace.
The Lord wants to lift you up and exalt you. He wants great things for you. He wants to bless you. However, you first must humble yourself. You must first die to your self. You must bow down and acknowledge Jesus not just as Savior, but as Lord.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4.10)
