Proverbs 13:10

Through pride and presumption come nothing but strife, But [skillful and godly] wisdom is with those who welcome [well-advised] counsel.

Pride is: “All about me. I got this. I can handle this. I got the answers. I know all I need to know. I’m in control. I’m in charge. “

Its a feeding of the ego, and egos like to “eat”. Advice from others is unwanted. If it is perceived that you know more than a prideful person, or that they are not in charge of the situation, its like taking food off the table. If by giving sound advice, they feel a little embarrassed, its like taking food off their plate. And humility…well, that’s like starvation.

In the animal kingdom, we’ve seen where the more hungry an animal is, the more aggressive they become. So it is with the ego. If it is brought to a point of starvation (humility), then there’s going to be conflict; pride and presumption lead to strife.

But on the flip-side, a person who is more concerned about the success of their endeavor and others, as opposed to an “ego feast”, will experience more peace and success in the long run. They welcome wise counsel instead of reject it.

So, does your ego need to go on a diet? Or are you a lean, mean wisdom machine?