May 31 - Loud and Proud

 Read today’s texts first: Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 God chose to invite all of us into His family
but we must choose to accept His invitation. 

Yesterday we talked about the themes emerging out of what seems like a random collection of proverbs. The theme that first came to my mind today fits neatly into the Romans reading. Paul is addressing the destructive pride he sees behind Jewish resistance to Gentiles being welcomed into the church. Today we let God’s Word speak for itself.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought....Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves....Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited (3,10,16).

Solomon wisely echoes Paul’s warnings, under the inspiration of the same Spirit: The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished....Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall....Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud (16:5,18,19); A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.... A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.... Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor (18:2,6,12).

Two things I noticed: pride shows up in words and those words destroy unity among God’s people. That may be why God “detests” pride. The proud are often loud, voicing opinions and stirring up strife. Unfortunately the destruction they leave in their wake affects more than themselves. “Pride goes before a fall” - we joke about it all the time, but it’s no laughing matter. Just as love is at the core of God’s nature, pride is at the core of Satan’s.

“Lord, I’m quick to notice pride in others but slow to see it in myself. But I know it’s there. I sometimes hear it in my words and see it in the strife I stir up. Forgive me and help me to take pride as seriously as You do!”