Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 123 Proverbs 15:25 Proverbs 15:25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. What type of people do you have a hard time being around? Isn’t it the proud and arrogant person who makes you feel less than human when they deign to speak to you? They might compliment you on something you did, and then go about telling how they did the same thing and got awards for their efforts. Everything they do is better than anything you can do. Solomon knew those people as well and probably rubbed shoulders with them being the wealthiest and wisest man in the kingdom as well as the king. However, one thing you don’t see in Solomon’s proverbs is boasting about his exploits in a vain and proud manner. You know his achievements because he compares his achievements with vanity and comes up wanting. Ecclesiastes 1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow. 2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What does it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4 I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that brings forth trees: 7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. Solomon did not boast in what he had, but showed it was a vexation of spirit, something that needs to be done. In John’s epistle, he told the Christians of his day that pride was not of God. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (KJV) When you start thinking of all your accomplishments, and start boasting about them in a manner that lifts you up, you are giving in to Satan’s schemes and his prompting that you are better than everyone else. Jesus is God, yet he did not lift himself up and boast about all he left behind so he could be our Savior. He became one of us, so we could be like him. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (KJV) Paul showed us the results of boasting. Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (KJV) As Christians, there is only one thing you are to boast about, and that is your salvation through Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Being boastful and arrogant about your accomplishments will get you nowhere, as Solomon pointed out. However, when you boast in the Lord, God will increase you and lift you up. Let’s pray: Father, help me not to become arrogant and boastful of my accomplishments, but let my boasting be in you and the faith and trust I have in you and what you did for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 9 January 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay