February 7, 2024 7:00 pm
Pride precedes and often leads to humiliation—something a man in Norway found out. Not even dressed in running clothes, the individual arrogantly challenged Karsten Warholm—the world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles—to a race. Warholm, training in an indoor public facility, obliged the challenger and left him in his dust. At the finish line, the two-time world champion smiled when the man insisted that he’d had a bad start and wanted to race again!
In Proverbs 29:23 we read, “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” God’s dealings with the proud is one of Solomon’s favorite themes in the book (11:2; 16:18; 18:12). The word pride in these verses means “swelling” or “puffed up”—taking credit for what rightfully belongs to God. When we’re filled with pride, we think more highly of ourselves than we should. Jesus once said, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Both He and Solomon point us to pursue humility and lowliness. This isn’t false modesty, but right-sizing oneself and acknowledging that all that we have comes from God. It’s being wise and not saying things arrogantly “in haste” (Proverbs 29:18, 20).
Let’s ask God to give us the heart and wisdom to humble ourselves to honor Him and avoid humiliation.
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Welcome to today's encouragement from your friends at Our Daily Bread. Today's reading, titled Brought Low, was written by Marvin Williams. The world record holder in the 400 meter hurdles to a race.
Warholme, training in an indoor public facility, obliged the challenger and left him in the dust. At the finish line, the two-time world champion smiled when the man insisted that he'd had a bad start and wanted to race again. In Proverbs chapter 29 verse 23, we read, Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. God's dealings with the proud is one of Solomon's favorite themes in the book. The word pride or hottie in these verses means swelling or puffed up, taking credit for what rightfully belongs to God.
When we're filled with pride, we think more highly of ourselves than we should. Jesus once said, those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Both he and Solomon direct us to pursue humility and lowliness. This isn't false modesty, but right-sizing oneself and acknowledging that all that we have comes from God. It's being wise and not saying things arrogantly in haste. Let's ask God to give us the heart and wisdom to humble ourselves, to honor him and avoid humiliation.
Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Proverbs chapter 29 verses 18 through 27. Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint. But blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction. Servants cannot be corrected by mere words, though they understand they will not respond.
Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. An angry person stirs up conflict and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies.
They are put under oath and dare not testify. Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice. The righteous detest the dishonest.
The wicked detest the upright. Let's pray. Dear Father, our arrogance and hubris often gets us into a lot of trouble. Would you remind us that the pathway of humility is always the right step in honoring you before others? And it's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Thank you so much for listening today. My name is Wes Ward, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2024-02-07 21:00:02 / 2024-02-07 21:01:36 / 2
