September 23, 2026

Business by the Book

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

I was okay until he got out of his car and began walking toward me. He was mad because I intervened in his verbal and physical attack on a woman. We were in a fast food parking lot. He was big, but I’m no pipsqueak myself. He walked up to my truck window with no good intention in his mind. Me? My Georgia red neck upbringing began to fall down on me, I could feel it. He words toward me were not church words to say the least.

I had not said a word to him since I yelled out of my truck window for him to stop assaulting the woman. But when he got close, real close, close enough to reach in my window I said softly, “You’d better be glad that God has made a difference in my life!”  With that he stopped, looked embarrassed, turned around got into his sports car, looked at me again and sped off, the woman with him. Go figure!

Wow, what a relief. Pride was the source of our contention. Thank God my pride did not need to prove anything. The situation was diffused because one of us decided not to let pride escalate a bad situation. The Lord stopped me, and I believe the Lord stopped him.

Over the years since, I have seen many contentions between people. Every one of them were the result of pride. Pride of one or pride of both it doesn’t matter, but unchecked pride caused the contentiousness. Whenever there is contention, pride is there. Be well advised and check pride in the prayer closet, make it stay there all day long. Nothing good ever comes from contentious pride.

Dr. William Howe