The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 253

Ver.10.-Pride and contention. I. THE REASONS WHY PRIDE PRODUCES CONTENTION. 1. It is self-assertive. The proud man claims a large aud promineut place for himself. He will not eudure a secondary position. He demands his rights not so much because he really wishes to enjoy them, as because they are his rights. He will not forego them even when he gains no advantage by the exercise of them. Now this self- assertiveness threatens the supposed rights of others where the boundary-li~e is as yet uncertitin. It also provokes a similar spirit in a man's neighbours. 2. It is exacting. Pride claims its dues. The 11roud lord will have every ounce of respect from his underlings. Even those who are met on equal terms are narrowly scrutinized to see if they withhold a shadow of the supposed rights from the jealousy of pride. 3. It is ?verbearing. It ,vil! not endure _opposition ; it is intolerant of differences of opinion; 1t would rather trespass on the nghts of others than surrender any of its own claims. Thus it is perpetually challenging all who cross its path. II. THE REGIO:SS m WHICH PRIDE PRODUCES CONTENTION. 1. Among nations. It was thought that war sprang from the pride and jealousy of monarchs, and that when the people gained power wa'r would cease. But republics declare war. 'l'here is a. dangerous form of national pride. It is possible for a whole people to be carried away by unreasoning elation, and to make inordinate claims for itself, or to be unduly sensi- tive to affront. 2. In society. Pride is here one of the chief dangers to the order and peace of cities. The poor would endure the sight of the prosperity of the rich if they were not goaded by the more irritating spectacle of insulting pride. 'l'he least that the.v can do who have more than their share of the good things of life is to hold them with quiet humility. To flaunt their superiority of good fortune in the face c,f their miserable fellow-citizens, and to make it a ground for scorn and contempt, is to rouse the latent rage of men who are already chafing under what-whether rightly or wrongly-they regard as a grossly unjust social order. 3. In private life. Pride is the most direful source of family quarrels. It separates the best friends, and it sets up the most invincible barriers against a speedy reconciliation, When love would hold out the hand of forgiveness, pride hangs back in gloomy resentfulness. III. THE WAY TO PREVENT PRIDE FROM PRODUCING CONTENTION. There is but one way; pride must be humiliated and cast out. 'l'his monster sin is directly aimed at in the prtaching of the gospel of the cross. It is found lurking in the breasts of men who are regarded as saints; but it is no part of their saintliness. It is still a sin in the siglit of God. Christ cannot endure it, and one who would foliow Christ must forsake it. There is no better way of destroying it than by submission to the yoke of him who was "meek and lowly." Ver. 11.-Fraudulent gain. I. THE DELUSIVE APPEARANCE OF FRAUDULENT GAIN. This looks very different from coarse, vulgar robbery. The sleek swindler owns no common brotherhood with the brutal burglar. Fraudulent gain is got in the way of business; it is not at all like the money directly stolen from a man's pocket, 'l'ho process is so very roundabout that it is difficult to trace the transition from fair dealing w cheatincr. The decorous thief woulrl be horrified at hearing his true name. He knows hi/actions are not quite straightforward, but the crookedness of them is almost hidden from himself by neat contrivances. Now, all this makes the pursuit of fraudu- lent gain the more treacherous and dangerous. A man who follows such a course is lost before be owns himself to be dishonest. II. THE TEMPTATIONS TO MAKE l,'RAUDULENT GAIN. 'l'bey spring from various sources. 1. Keen competition. It is so hard to make a living in the fierce contest of business life when every rival ie treated as an enemy, that any extra advantage is eagerly sought after. 2. Large promises. As the m~rgin of protits _shrink while the reyuirements of energy and alertness grow, any expedient that prounses more speedy and remunerative returns is likely to preRent a fascinating appearance. 3. Compro- mising customs. Business is not always conducted on perfectly honest grounds, and the di~houeHty that is prevalent claims to be sanctioned by UHage. Moreover, if some dtparturn frum absolute right is permitted, a greatP.r dcgro<J of dishonesty is but CH. XIII, 1-25.] THE PRO VERBS. 257