OUR DAILY BREAD : ARROGANCE AND PRIDE

[cimi]

July 21
Sunday


ARROGANCE
AND PRIDE

READ:
Proverbs 8:12-21
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Pride and arrogance
and the evil way and
the perverse mouth I
hate. __Proverbs 8:12-21
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In The Screwtape Letters written by C. S. Lewis, a senior devil urges his young protege to divert a Christians' thoughts away from God and focus instead on the faults of the people around him at church.

During a Sunday service, I found myself distracted and somewhat annoyed by a person near me who sang loudly off key and was out of sync during the unison readings. But when we bowed our heads for a time of silent prayer, it struck me that the Lord must surely be more pleased with that others person's heart than with the judgmental feelings He saw in mine.

A few days later I happened to read Proverbs 8 and was struck by verse 13: "Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate." Throughout this chapter, wisdom calls to us to gain an understanding heart (v.5) and to find life and obtain favor from the Lord (v.35). The alternative is to go through life with a superior attitude while dying inside in the process (v.36).

Pride is a sword that wounds the person who uses it along with those against whom it is used. arrogance robs us of all God longs to give us, but "by humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life" (22:4). __David McCasland

`````````````Oh, just a bit of Thy meekness, my Savior,```````````````
`````````````To be the least when of self I would boast;```````````````
`````````````Finding my glory and strength in Thy favor,```````````````
````````Know in my weakness Thy grace can do most. __Bosch``````````
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Pride brings shame. Humility brings wisdom

*********************Today's Bible Reading __ Proverbs 8:12-21********************

12 I, wisdom, dwell with
prudence, and find out
knowledge and discretion.

13 The fear of the LORD is
to hate evil; pride and
arrogance and the evil way
and the perverse mouth I
hate. 14 Counsel is mine,
and sound wisdom; I am
understanding, I have
strength. 15 By me princes
rule, and nobles, all the
judges of the earth. 17 I
love those who love me,
and those who seek me
diligently will find me.

18 Riches and honor are
with me, enduring riches
and righteousness. 19 My
fruit is better than gold,
yes, than fine gold, and my
revenue than choice silver.

20 I traverse the way of
righteousness, in the midst
of the paths of justice,

21 that I may cause those
who love me to inherit
wealth, that I may fill their
treasuries.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Opening Up Proverbs commentary provides an interesting
series of comparisons between wisdom as portrayed in Proverbs
and the Lord Jesus Christ: "Wisdom and Jesus teach you to humbly
fear God (8:12-13). Those who learn from her are humbled and
hate evil. Jesus was meek and humble (Matt. 20-28; Phil. 2:5-8)....
Wisdom and Jesus offer you great rewards (8:17-21). Wisdom loves
and blesses those who love and seek her (v.17). They enjoy success
in their vocations, in their families, with their finances, and in their
relationships. Jesus loves and blesses those who seek Him (John
14:21; Matt. 7:7-11)." Certainly, the wisdom of God s found in
Christ (Col. 2:1-3).