One major reason one should avoid גאוה is because it brings one to seek כבוד he doesn't deserve. The Yerushalmi says that one who is an expert in one masechta and receives כבוד for being an expert in two masechtos, must inform the people of his true stature.
That is the strict letter of the law. But one who wants to go further must realize that even the knowing the masechta that he knows was only made possible by Hashem. He is nothing. What is a brain? A piece of meat that weighs about 3 pounds. It could be cut out of the head, sliced up, cooked and any dog would be happy to have it for dinner. [Ostensibly after which the dog, with his new found seichel, would start doing New York Times cross word puzzles or reading the lastest book reviews].
So how do we understand anything? It is all G-d. As the pasuk says הכל מיד ה' עלי השכיל [Divrei Hayomim 1 28 19]. So the kavod belongs to Hashem ה' מלך גאות לבש - Hashem wears the enclothing of גאות. Any human pride is stealing what belongs to Him. HASHEM is the מלך הכבוד!!
[עי' רזי לי י"ח עמ' רכ-רכ"א]
