PRESUMPTUOUSNESS LEADS TO DISHONOR

"Has presumptuousness come? Then dishonor will come; but wisdom is with the modest ones." -PROVERBS 11:2.


AN ENVIOUS Levite leads a rebellious mob against Jehovah's appointed authorities. An ambitious prince concocts a devious scheme to usurp his father's throne. An impatient king disregards the explicit instructions of God's prophet.  These three Israelites share a common trait: presumptuousness.  

Presumptuousness is a charateristic of the heart that proses a serious threat to all. (Psalm 19:13)  The presumptuous person boldly takes liberties without having the authorization to do so.  Often, this leads to disaster. In fact, presumptuousness has ruined kings and toppled empires. (Jeremiah 50:29, 31, 31; Daniel 5:20)  It has even ensnared some servants of Jehovah and led them to their ruin. 

For good reason the Bible states:  "Has presumptuousness come? Then dishonor will come: but wisdom is with the modest ones." (Proverbs 11:2 )The Bible provides us with examples confirming the truthfulness of this proverb. An examination of some of these will help to see the danger of  overstepping due bounds. Hence, let us consider how envy, ambition, and impatience cause the three men mentioned at the outset to act presumptuously, leading to their dishonor. 

Next time: Korah-An Envious Rebel

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000