Proverbs 30:13

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about being prideful and over confident:

Proverbs 30:13

There is a kind —oh how lofty are his eyes!

And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

Proverbs 30:13 (ESV)

There are those—how lofty are their eyes,

how high their eyelids lift!

The writer of these proverbs is outlining for us the type of people who demonstrate folly.  Agur, the writer, has, in the last two proverbs preceding this one, mentioned those who disrespect their parents and those who don't believe, as being sinful people.  He now comes to the above proverb and he is outlining for us those who are full of pride.   Disrespect and self-purity will result in having a very high opinion of oneself.   When we don't listen to authority and think we are pure from sin, what else is left, but pride?  Many people have a sense of "self-confidence" and in our society that is not only promoted, it is rewarded.  However, there is a difference in self-confidence based upon what God has done for you and in you and self-confidence based upon what you have done yourself, or think you have done yourself.   In this proverb Agur is condemning the later.   We can rejoice at what God can do through humble submission and an empty hand offered to Him to fill it.   However, when we believe we don't need Him and are full of arrogance and lofty eyes, we demonstrate our own folly.  This proverb serves as a stern warning to not rely on oneself but to revere God and trust Him to do great things through you and with you.  We don't really accomplish anything without His breath in us and His power propelling us.