Proverbs 3:34

Proverbs 3:34 (MSG)
 He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder, but if you're down on your luck, he's right there to help. 


Proverbs 3:34 (NIV)
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. 

Proverbs 3:34 (NLT)
The LORD mocks at mockers, but he shows favor to the humble.     

Proverbs 3:34 (NKJV)
Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. 


What does it mean for God to give grace? It is interesting to read this line from a variety of Bible versions. The Message tells us, "he's right there to help."  NLT says "he shows favor," and the NIV and NKJV reads, "gives grace to the humble."

All those years I made fun of religion, made foolish statements like, "Oh, I can worship anywhere. Outside in nature is the best place to pray. I don't need a building filled with lots of hypocrites in order to spend time with God."  While maybe there is some truth to this it is the heart our God is looking at. My ridiculing spirit was at work.  I had no intention of worshiping in nature, I was rejecting God.

It is said that an addict must hit bottom before she can find a cure for her addiction.  Well, there came a day over 20 years ago when I hit that proverbial bottom; I recognized that life as I knew it then, was empty and not worth waking up to in the morning.  I humbled myself and cried out to God to show me a better way.  From that moment on everything changed.  Inch by inch, so very slowly, but everything changed.

There is a lot more to this powerful moment in my life, but the point I want to make is when I humbled myself enough to admit that life is no good when maneuvered alone - grace stepped in. It is too hard to make sense of the injustices and the pain, all alone.  God did not make us to do any of these things on our own.  We have Him to turn to.  We have buildings full of hypocrites (just like us) to reach out to for help.

God gives grace to the humble.