Bridges on Proverbs 12:9
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 12:9
 
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9.  He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
 
A man, who has only a competency, sufficient to have a servant (Chapter 30:8, 9), and making no appearance, may be despised by his richer neighbors. (1 Samuel 18:23.) But his state is better than the proud show of rank, or family, without the means of sustaining it; or than one humbled by Providence, yet unhumbled in heart. (Chapter 13:7. Luke 14:11.) Nothing is so despicable as to be proud, where there is nothing to be proud of. Sometimes from ‘a shabby gentility’  — the foolish vanity of keeping up appearances — a man debars himself from the common comforts of life — honouring himself, and lacking bread. Such slaves are men to the opinion of the world! Principle is sacrificed to pride; and men rebel against Him, who makes no mistake in his allotments, and often appoints a descent from worldly elevation as a profitable discipline. (James 1:10, 11. Daniel 4:32-37.) Yet it is hard, even for the Christian, as Bunyan reminds us, ‘to go down the Valley of Humiliation, and catch no slip by the way.’ We need our Master's unworldly, elevated spirit (John 6:15) to make a safe descent. Remember — “the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16.) “Let our moderation be known unto all men,” under the constraining recollection — “The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5. Mark 13:1, 2.) How will the dazzling glare of man's esteem fade away before the glory of his appearing!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 30:8, 9
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: {convenient...: Heb. of my allowance} 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. {deny...: Heb. belie thee}
 
 
1 Samuel 18:23
23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
 
 
Proverbs 13:7
7 ¶ There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
 
Luke 14:11
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
 
 
Footnote:
Bp. Sanderson.
 
 
James 1:10, 11
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
 
Daniel 4:32-37
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. 34 ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
John 6:15
15 ¶ When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
 
 
1 John 2:16
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
 
 
Philippians 4:5
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
 
Mark 13:1, 2
1 ¶ And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.