sin and pridePerhaps nothing is more telling of the moral plight of our nation than the recycling of leaders who have disgraced their offices and betrayed the public’s trust. There was a time when Americans had little patience for men and women who demonstrated they were liars, deceivers, thieves and immoral. Today, those qualities appear to have become pre-requisite for elected office.

Solomon warned his son that pride, the root sin of man’s wickedness, is the path to disgrace.

Proverbs 11:2“When pride [arrogance; presumption; insolence] cometh [enters], then cometh shame [dishonor; disgrace]: but with the lowly [humble; modest] is wisdom [shrewdness].”

Moral decay has twisted the values of our nation and infamy has become the path to fame and fortune.  Allow me three examples to illustrate that statement: Former Congressman Anthony Weiner (NY) resigns in disgrace for posting unseemly weinerpictures of himself, only to resurface as a brazen candidate for the mayoral office of New York City.  Former President Bill Clinton, nearly driven from office by sexual scandals and for lying to the American people, survives to become the flag bearer for the Democrats with a wife potentially running for the office of president. Former governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, whose one predictable attribute is he is an amoral, pragmatic politician, is the democratic frontrunner for governor.

Why do we continue to blight our nation with the leadership of the disgraced?  I am afraid they reflect the nation we have become. Solomon warns such a people and nation:

Proverbs 16:18“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

humilty_You and I would be wise to heed Solomon’s wisdom and insight when he writes: “…with the lowly [humble] is wisdom.”  Pride leads to a predictable path of humiliation and destruction, while humility is the path to godly wisdom and honor.

Proverbs 15:33“…before honour is humility.”

Proverbs 22:4“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.”