(Week 7/2024)
A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver [Proverbs 25v11]
Today we conclude our study on the three reasons why so many Christians are deprived of the joy and contentment God wants us all to have.
It is no surprise that they are recorded by the Apostle of love, John, in his 1st Epistle chapter 2v16: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world”. Today we consider the boastful pride of life. Satan was the originator of this sin as recorded in Isaiah 14v14: “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High”. He was cast out of heaven and then became the instigator of the downfall of mankind when he tempted Adam and Eve with the lie that God is depriving us of the opportunity to be like Him – as recorded in Genesis 3v5: “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”. Pride is the root of all evil and the desire to be like God in intellect and power causes so much misery in this world – as we read in Proverbs 16v18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”. Why is this the case?
Three times Scripture gives the same reason (in Proverbs 3v34, 1 Peter 5v5 and James 4v6) “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble”. Pride is a barrier to a relationship with the Lord who values humility. Humility is associated with weakness, but this is not what it means – it actually means strength under control and the ultimate example is Jesus Christ, as we read in Philippians 2v8: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross”. The Bible tells us in Numbers 12v3: “Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth”. He certainly wasn’t a weakling, but he never elevated himself or used his position to take advantage of others, but sought their good. Humility considers others better than yourself even when you know they are not. In conclusion a word of warning – don’t become proud of your humility!
God Bless
Graeme Greenwood