Weekly Wisdoms for the week of May 21, 2018
Pride can be blinding. It is possible to become so prideful and haughty that a person doesn't even recognize his or her own pride.
Such pride leads to disgrace: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).
Likewise, someone who is prideful thinks that he or she knows everything; such a person refuses to receive correction or instruction. Proverbs 13:10 says, Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Furthermore, pride leads to and causes destruction: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). This is because proud people are blinded to reality -- the reality of their sins.
Therefore, admit that you have a problem with pride, because otherwise God will be obligated to show you that you have a pride problem. God may have to humble you by humiliating you.
With all these verses in the Bible warning us not to be prideful, it is no surprise that a man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor (Proverbs 29:23).
God has given us His Word as a guide for our life. However, His Word won't help us if we don't study it, know it, and live by it. Therefore, we must diligently study and apply God's Word if we wish for it to have an impact on our lives.
Jesus promised, "If you abide in My word ..., you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32, AMP). That's a promise that if we abide in His Word, we will know the Truth, because His Word is the Truth.
So it makes sense that God told the Israelites, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8).
Joshua later repeated a similar instruction: "Be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left" (Joshua 23:6).
Why is it so important to follow God's Word? Because His Word keeps us from turning aside to the right or to the left; it keeps us on the straight and narrow path that leads to life (see Matthew 7:13-14).
Therefore, abide in His Word, because His Word will keep you from sin.
Copyright © 2018 Christianity.com. All rights reserved. If you would like to reproduce these Weekly Wisdom explanations on your site, please contact us.
All scripture quotations are in italics. Some portions of scripture have been placed in bold by the author for emphasis.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION©. NIV©. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.