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

Related Verse: Proverbs 28:25,  He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

The word of God is sharp.

It cuts things one from another and allows us to examine the parts that make up the whole.

It dissects and opens up hidden things to our view!

One of the great gifts of the word of God is its ability to show the proper source of things.

Where does something come from?

I like to know where things come from. Don't you?

If I know that, I will be able to find out things that will help me.

In this verse we are told that the source of contention, the source of strife, the source of quarreling is pride.

Mark it down. God says that it is Pride!

Even when you are right and if you stir up strife or contention the source of that contention is pride.

And when you are wrong and you stir up strife or contention the source of that contention is pride.

It does not matter if you are right or if you are wrong.

Just look deep enough in the matter and pride will reveal itself. Pride will rear its ugly face.

Want to know how to identify pride on your part?

Are you the cause of contention, strife, and quarrels?

If so then the source of that contention is pride on your part.

No matter how righteous you think you are God tells us in this verse that pride is the source of your contention, your strifes.

Pride darkens the mind to my faults, and it also darkens my mind to your virtues.

Pride paints your faults and my faults with makeup that distorts the truth.

The magnifying glass of pride enhances my virtues but enlarges your faults.

Pride makes me look good and in my eyes it can make you look bad.

Pride is easier to recognize in others than in yourself. Your heart arranges it like that.

Pride produces contempt of others which results in provoking speech and arrogant behavior.

Pride produced those that Jesus spoke to in Luke 18:9: those who "trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:"

Pride produced the Pharisee "who stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."

Pride produces an endless string of strife and contentions.

Pride produced the desire for pre-eminence on the part of the mother of James and John as she sought special office for her sons.

Pride produced the challenges to the authority that God had given Moses.

Pride produces the itching ears of the apostasy; the ears that desire unsound doctrine and all the contention that results from that.

The human heart may even produce pride in those that claim to contend for the faith when in reality they contend for their own advancement and their own profit.

Pride can slip itself in under many covers, even the cover of glorifying God.

As a wise commentator once said, "It is the inmost coat, which we put on first and we take off last."

The bottom line is that pride is rebellion against God because it attributes to self the honor and glory due to God alone.

Pride justifies itself by saying honour must be maintained, insult must be avenged, competitors must be vanquished, superiors must be equalled and surpassed, our rights must be protected.

But pride has no understanding of God's Word.

Read 1 Corinthians 6:7,  Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

God says that it is better to be defrauded than to have contention, than to have strife.

Nor does pride understand Matthew 5:39-46,  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:11,12,  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

The Christian is not to be a man of the world.

He is to live on a higher plane.

His spirit is a humble spirit, a modest spirit.

A non-strife producing spirit.

He is to have a well advised spirit.

The well advised spirit is advised by the word of God as administered to him by the Holy Spirit of God.

What better advice is there?

Philippians 2:3 is the way of life for the well advised spirit of Proverbs 13:10,  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

The proud and contentious despise the advice of others and are their own worst enemy.

The humble will not let themselves be drawn into contention and strife.

If they are treated poorly or unfairly for Christ's sake, they rejoice and are exceedingly glad for their reward is great in heaven.

Their right cheek easily turns to provide another cheek for smiting.

They covet not their cloak so that they may give it to the one who stole their coat and they easily walk the second mile with those who forced them to walk the first mile.

These are the well advised! These are the wise!