SERMON: TRUE HUMILITY – THE SWEETNESS THAT DOES NOT DESTROY
Text: Proverbs 25:27 — “It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.”
Introduction — When Sweetness Becomes Poison
Honey in Scripture represents sweetness, delight, pleasure, abundance. In the ancient world, honey was the sweetest natural thing a man could taste. It was desirable, but if eaten in excess, it caused sickness. The same is true for the human soul: certain things are good in measure, but deadly in excess — especially self-glory.
Solomon takes this physical truth and applies it to a spiritual reality:
Just as too much honey harms the body, the pursuit of our own glory harms the soul.
This verse strikes directly at the heart of pride, self-promotion, ego, and the endless human obsession with being noticed, honored, admired, praised, or elevated.
Our entire modern world is built around honey:
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likes, views, followers
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recognition, status, self-branding
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being known, being admired
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projecting one’s achievements
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building a name for oneself
People want sweetness, and Solomon says:
“Be careful. Sweetness can make you sick.”
This sermon explores the deep warning of the text:
The pursuit of personal glory destroys humility, corrupts the heart, distances us from God, and turns spiritual honey into poison.
1. Honey Is Good — But Not Too Much
The Bible never says honey is evil.
Likewise, it is not wrong to receive encouragement, gratitude, appreciation, or honour when God Himself brings it to you.
There is a difference between:
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accepting honor humbly
and -
seeking honor aggressively.
God honors faithfulness.
People may appreciate your service.
That's normal and healthy.
But the Scripture warns:
“Not good to eat much honey.”
Too much sweetness leads to:
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nausea
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imbalance
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sickness
And the human heart is extremely weak in this area.
It does not take much sweetness — a compliment, a praise, a recognition — before pride begins to rise.
Most people do not fall because of hardship. They fall because of success.
Many do not stumble because of trials. They stumble because of praise.
Honey blinds more people than bitterness.
2. The Dangerous Sweetness of Self-Glory
The second part of the proverb says:
“So for men to search their own glory is not glory.”
Meaning:
When you chase glory for yourself, it loses all real glory.
What the world calls “glory” is actually hollow, empty, and shameful in God’s eyes.
Self-glory is a counterfeit crown.
It looks shiny but it has no eternal value.
Why is self-glory so dangerous?
Because:
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It steals glory from God
Isaiah 42:8 — “My glory will I not give to another.” -
It inflates the ego
Pride is the root of all sin (Proverbs 16:18). -
It creates self-dependence instead of God-dependence
A man seeking his own name forgets God’s name. -
It makes us compare ourselves with others
Pride thrives in competition. -
It destroys relationships
A proud man cannot submit, cannot forgive, cannot love. -
It kills spiritual hunger
A man full of self-glory no longer hungers for God’s glory.
True humility cannot coexist with self-exaltation.
The moment we seek our own fame, we lose sight of Jesus.
3. Biblical Examples of Honey Becoming Poison
a. King Nebuchadnezzar – “Look at my great Babylon!”
He ate too much honey — self-glory — and God struck him down until he acknowledged the Most High.
b. King Uzziah – Strong until he became proud
When he became famous, his heart was lifted up, and he was struck with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:16).
c. The Pharisees – Loved the praises of men
Jesus said they did everything “to be seen by men” (Matthew 23:5).
They sought honey and became spiritual sick.
d. Lucifer – The first sin in the universe
Not adultery, theft, or murder.
It was pride:
“I will ascend…I will be like the Most High.”
He overate honey — and fell from glory.
4. Glory Belongs to God Alone
One of the greatest spiritual insights you will ever learn is this:
Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.
True humility is simply this:
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God is center, not me
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His name is above mine
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His kingdom, not my empire
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His will, not my ambition
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His fame, not my reputation
The humble man is free because he doesn’t need the applause of men.
He finds joy in God alone.
When men praise him — he thanks God.
When men criticize him — he leans on God.
When men forget him — he does not mind, because his identity is rooted in God, not in popularity.
5. Why the Heart Loves Sweetness
The desire for praise, approval, recognition, or validation is rooted in the fallen nature.
We want to feel important.
We want others to see our achievements.
We want to be admired.
We want to be respected.
We want to be somebody.
This is the inner hunger of the flesh.
But if you feed the flesh with honey, it grows stronger and demands more.
This is why people become addicted to:
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affirmation
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public praise
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compliments
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achievements
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status
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social media attention
The more they receive, the more they want.
The flesh will never say “enough.”
Only humility kills that craving.
6. The Cure to Self-Glory: Looking at the Glory of God
The surest way to kill pride is not by looking at yourself less, but by looking at God more.
When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he cried:
“Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5)
Not because God humiliated him,
but because God’s glory exposed his nothingness.
The closer you come to the greatness of God,
the smaller you realize you are.
The brighter the light,
the more clearly you see your dust.
The more you behold His holiness,
the more you understand your need for His mercy.
Humility grows in the atmosphere of God’s glory.
7. Jesus — The Perfect Example of Humility
Philippians 2:5–8 shows Christ’s humility:
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He is God, yet He took the form of a servant
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He deserved honour, yet He accepted shame
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He could command legions of angels, yet He humbled Himself
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He washed the feet of His disciples
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He was silent before His accusers
Jesus, the One who truly deserves eternal glory, did not seek His own glory.
He said:
“I seek not mine own glory.” (John 8:50)
What an astonishing statement.
The Son of God refusing to seek His own glory — how much more should we refuse it?
If the sinless Christ did not seek His own glory,
how much more should sinners avoid self-promotion?
8. How to Walk in True Humility
1. Acknowledge God in everything
Say like David:
“Not unto us, O Lord, but unto Your name give glory.”
2. Serve in secret
Jesus said the Father who sees in secret will reward openly.
3. Accept obscurity
You don’t need to be noticed to be valuable.
4. Receive praise carefully
Let gratitude rise, but let pride die.
5. Give credit to others
Lifting others is the mark of true greatness.
6. Confess your weaknesses
Pride hides.
Humility admits.
7. Remember your origins
Everything you have — talents, strength, breath — is from God.
8. Look to the cross
At the cross, the boasting of man dies, and the grace of God shines.
9. The Bitter Reality of a Life of Self-Glory
A person who seeks his own glory becomes:
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insecure
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competitive
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jealous
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easily offended
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hungry for praise
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exhausted from keeping up appearances
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empty on the inside
Self-glory leads to burnout because you must constantly perform to stay relevant.
You must keep producing, keep impressing, keep maintaining an image.
It becomes slavery.
The Scripture is mercifully warning us:
Don’t eat too much honey. Don’t chase glory. It will destroy you.
10. God Himself Lifts the Humble
While the proud lift themselves,
the humble wait for God to lift them.
1 Peter 5:6 — “Humble yourselves…that He may exalt you in due time.”
When God exalts you,
no man can bring you down.
When you exalt yourself,
God Himself will bring you down.
Let God write your story.
Let God build your name.
Let God open the doors.
Let God fight the battles.
Let God reward your faithfulness.
It is safer to be exalted by God than by men.
Conclusion — Don’t Eat Too Much Honey
The world says:
“Promote yourself.”
“Push your brand.”
“Show your achievements.”
“Let people see your greatness.”
But Scripture says:
“Not good to eat much honey.”
Self-glory is a sweetness that destroys.
Humility is a sweetness that heals.
Choose humility.
Choose the way of Christ.
Choose to decrease, that Christ may increase.
And one day, when all earthly crowns turn to dust,
when all human praise fades into silence,
when all applause becomes meaningless —
the humble will shine in the glory of God forever.
Amen.
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