Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Romans 12:16 ESV
If we are to understand how to live in harmony with others it behooves us to drill down into the original meaning of “haughty“. The contemporary definition of haughty is arrogantly superior and disdainful both of which imply contempt. The KJV reads, “Mind not high things,” which, as we will see, just might be a more accurate contemporary expression of haughty.
High (Greek)– hypsēlós
Strongs Concordance
Lofty in place or character:–highly esteemed, exalted on high, with an uplifted arm, eminent, influence, honor, to seek, high things as in honors and riches.
While viewing others with contempt would certainly qualify as haughty, it is not the only defining factor.
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV
Haughty (ESV) or “A proud look” (KJV) in Hebrew is
Ruwm
– Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament-
to be high, to rise or raise, exalt self, extol, set up on, high, hold up, be lofty, promote, proud, set up, breed worms, to be rotten or wormy.
While there are similarities, God’s definition of haughty is deeper than the extreme of contemptuousness or disdain.
If we go deeper we gain more clarity via the polar opposite of haughty in the command to associate ourselves with the lowly. Haughtiness seeks a platform and the esteem of man. Paul counters this in Galatians.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servantof Christ.
Galatians 1:10
Taken to the extreme, haughtiness seeks to be idolized and even worshiped. We counter any propensity for haughtiness by going low and slow. We strive to grow down instead of up. Jesus is our ultimate example.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:3
The final step is to “Never be wise in your own sight”. This is rooted in Proverbs 3.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:5-8
If I had to choose only one verse to live by this would be it. It is the solution to every problem a believer might face. That said, haughtiness is a root cause of many if not most, social problems. It does not only apply to those who are exalted. It applies to those who desire to be exalted. It can even apply to those who exalt others.
What do you mean?
Isn’t exalting people a way to honor them?
There are a couple of very famous evangelists whom Cathy and I knew before they became platformed and exalted within the charismatic stream. Cathy cringes when I name them, so I won’t. She cringes because, too often, my naming a famous name looks like self-exaltation in today’s world.
“Seriously Brian!? You actually know blankety – blank – blank?!”
Trust me, I am not self-promoting. Heck, I know them apart from fake celebrity versions of themselves. Rather the issue at hand is that so many people engage in vicarious self-promotion.
“I must be important if I know someone important”.
It follows that I might be viewed as worth knowing by those with a desire to be esteemed and exalted themselves. Please don’t misunderstand. There is nothing inherently wrong with honoring someone famous, provided you aren’t honoring them because they are famous and you bestow equal honor upon the one who cleans the toilet in your church. It is for this reason that Paul the Apostle described himself as
the filth of the world- the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1 Corinthians 4:13
Mind you, he was not referring to his identity in Christ. He was referring to his place in the world and perhaps the earthly-minded carnal church. This is the essence of the IRIS Global adage,
“Low and and Slow”
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Revelation 12:10
Even deeper, consider that the word Accuse is katḗgoros the Greek word from which the English word categories is derived. It appears to highlight the root of the issue of haughtiness and perhaps the reason why it is mentioned first in the list of things God hates. Haughtiness divides us into categories based on alleged worth. Those promoted by various forms of media as celebrities are viewed as be inherently worth more than those who clean your toilet at church. That celebrity minster idolized by the masses is actually lower than the toilet cleaner.
Minister is huperetes – “under rower.” as in the slaves chained to benches and forced to row below deck on ancient warships.
– Strongs Concordance –
We may want to believe otherwise. But ask yourself this question. What would excite you more, a dinner invitation from your church janitor? Or the same invitation from Bill Johnson or Heidi Baker? Or maybe Paul Washer or Voddie Baucham if you’re not a charismaniac. In either case, this is where we find the true root of haughtiness.
Meditate on that…
