FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2019.
SUBJECT : THE CURE OF PRIDE!
Memory verse: "A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor."
(Proverbs 29 vs 23.)
READ: Proverbs 16 vs 18; 18 vs 12; Jeremiah 49 vs 16:
Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
18:12: Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Jeremiah 49:16: Your fierceness has deceived you, the pride of your heart, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill! Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there,“ says the Lord.
INTIMATION:
Pride is an inordinate self-esteem or conceit. It is having a high opinion or high regard of oneself, that culminates into arrogance, pompousness, haughtiness. It often results into disdainful treatment of others. Pride deludes us into thinking that we can take care of ourselves without God’s help. Pride is destructive, and it heads the list of seven things God hates (see Proverbs 6 vs 16 - 17). Pride leads to disgrace (Proverbs 11 vs 2), produces quarrels (Proverbs 13 vs 10), leads to punishment (Proverbs 16 vs 5), leads to destruction (Proverbs 16 vs 18), ends in downfall (Proverbs 18 vs 12), and brings one low (Proverbs 29 vs 23).
The cure of pride is a humble spirit. Being humble is not to think of yourself too highly. It is to bring oneself low; it can imply lower social or economic status. It is being meek or gentle. Humility means proper respect for God, not self-depreciation, rather it is realistic self-assessment; understanding your limitations, and realizing your sinfulness. Truly humble people compare themselves only with Christ, recognizing their gifts and strength and are willing to use them, as Christ directs, to serve. The harmful results of pride are constantly contrasted with humility and its benefits.
Humble people always review their plans, thoughts, and actions, comparing them with what Christ would have done in the same circumstances. Healthy self-evaluation is important, and the key to an honest and accurate self-evaluation is knowing the basis of our self-worth, comparing our thoughts and actions with Christ's standards. Humble people are not wise in their own opinion. They guard against pride, and are willing to admit their mistakes, and be open to godly advice of others, and ask for help when needed.
Perhaps, the account of the Scripture that illustrates the consequences of pride and humility more vividly is God's humiliation of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4 vs 28 - 33. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which was interpreted to him by prophet Daniel. But he refused to do what the LORD commanded him to do within the twelve months probationary period, and God's wrath was unleashed upon him according to his dream.
The Scripture says, "All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses." That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from the men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagle's feathers and his nails like bird's claws." (Daniel 4 vs 28 - 33.)
Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of humility that is in Christ; to think lowly of myself, and be meek and gentle, ready to serve You and others, even with the talents You deposited in me, in Jesus' Name I prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
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