Our passage in Proverbs today is the beginning of the section we commonly recognize as proverbs or wise sayings. One in particular jumped out at me today...
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
I don't think it is possible to overstate the importance of humility and the danger of pride when it comes to living out our faith authentically and growing closer to the Lord.
What is the greatest commandment?
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
I think it would be accurate to say that it is virtually impossible to truly love God with all our heart, soul and mind if we are puffed up with pride. It is likewise impossible to truly love our neighbour when we allow our pride to get in the way.
Probably nothing is a bigger stumbling block to relationships - whether with our fellow (wo)man, or with our God - than pride.
Pride does not allow anyone other than ourselves to be number one, to sit on the throne of our hearts, to be Lord of our lives.
It is only when we humble ourselves that we can accept God's grace and mercy and the salvation He offers through Christ alone.
It is only when we humble ourselves that we allow Christ to be our Lord, and not just our Saviour.
It is only when we humble ourselves that we are able to serve each other as Jesus taught us to.
It is only when we are humble that we can be the wife, mother, sister, friend, woman that Jesus wants us to be.
It is only when we are humble that we care able to rely on the strength of God and His infinite wisdom, instead of our own limited understanding.
Indeed, with humility comes wisdom!
For another really encouraging and convicting sermon by John MacArthur, you can read his message on Acts 1 here. It's about how God has given us the huge task of finishing the work begun by Jesus Christ - and to do it we need the right message (gotta know the Word to know the message!), the right manifestation (we have to have experienced Jesus for ourselves personally), the right power (the Holy Spirit), the right mystery (we don't know when He's coming back), the right mission (we're His witnesses whether we like it or not - how are we portraying Him?) and the right motivation (He is coming to reward us who are faithful).
Our goal should be to be able to say with the Apostle Paul, at the end of our lives...
"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Paul was ready to die because he knew he had finished the work God had for him to do.
Are we willing to do what it takes to be able to make that statement?
Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 13-15, Acts 2:1-21
2 comments:
Great post, Tammy. Pride is a huge stumbling block for many people. One of the things I've really been working on is NOT to tell myself "I deserve this" or "I shouldn't have to do such-and-such... they can do it themselves". Basically, I've been working on having a better attitude about serving, whenever, wherever and however needed. Having said that, I do still make my children do their own chores. That's not a matter of not wanting to be their "slave" but rather wanting to teach them to do what needs doing when it needs to be done, and being a contributing, participating member of the household... preferably without complaining! I think that'll take until they're about, oh, maybe 25?
Agreed. Pride is difficult to overcome and society encourages us to be prideful and to show off our accomplishments. Therefore it is humility that sets us apart as believers. The acknowledgement that our success comes from God and not by what we do or have done can draw others to Him.
A verse that stood out for me was:
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.
A good verse for me as I struggle with criticism and a good verse for the parents of my Grade 1 friends who tend to see discipline as an attack on them not as a tool to help their children.
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