An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Lookin' Good

(Proverbs 21:4 KJV)  An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

What is the mark of the “wicked” (7563)?   What people see is the “hight” (haughty NASB) (7312) “look” (eyes NASB).  At times it is easy to see this in others, yet how often are we mistaken?  Is this just an outward sign?  We have all had experiences both ways.  We have met people that seem to be arrogant and egotistical and then we find they just have weird shaped eyebrows.  Other times we have sensed an attitude on our first meeting and it has been born out.  We need to be careful of quick judgments but we also need to admit that some people are evil.  I think we get a picture that is complex here. 

“Hight” (haughty NASB) (7312) comes from a root word meaning exalted or lifted up.  It is used in both positive and negative ways.  A positive use is familiar to all of us:
(Proverbs 14:34 KJV)  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
In today’s verse it is obviously a negative.  Haughty eyes would talk about how a person views the world.  It is a warning to us as believers.  We will be accused of being arrogant often enough because we believe in truth and a biblical morality.  We need to be careful that we don’t allow it to become an accurate statement of who we are. 

This is why we are called to servanthood.  Because we represent a holy God and walk with His Spirit in us, it is easy to get full of ourselves.  We exist for the blessing of those around us.  The following comes to mind:
(Philippians 2:3 KJV)  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Sometimes doing what is best for other people will get us accused of being arrogant.  Accept that but examine your heart to make sure your motives are right.

So examine yourself.  Make that the Greek present tense, which means something that is in continual process.  Never rest on your laurels.  Keep checking yourself, not with doubt but with an honesty that is only possible because you have one end of your measuring stick locked on the Word of God.

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