“He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.” Proverbs 17:19

The term “exalt the gate” may be unfamiliar but the concept is not. To exalt the gate is to build a home that stands out from others. Is Solomon condemning large houses? Of course not. He is condemning the heart motives that led to the building, the need for the attention and admiration of others. It is this heart sin that finds destruction as if destruction was the end goal. The need to be admired, the craving for attention, the need for attention, the need to be properly appreciated – these perceived needs don’t seem so evil, do they? “I don’t want to stand out, I just want people to show a little appreciation for all I do. What in the world could be wrong with that?” The problem is that this mindset leads to destruction and doesn’t understand self, others, or God. A Godly perspective looks more like this:

Self – My worth is not in me. My worth is in Christ.

Others – How others perceive me doesn’t change anything about me. Why should I then seek to impress or be noticed by others?