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.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Two-Edged Humility

(Proverbs 16:19 KJV)  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Social snobbery is not acceptable.  We need a “humble” (8217) “spirit” (7307).  Have you noticed how some people treat a waitress like a second class citizen?  When we talk with some of the locals in Hawaii it becomes clear that many tourists look down on the people who live and work in vacationland.  You see it in the way people treat clerks and low level employees.  This is not the way of God.

We should not be afraid to associate with the “lowly” (6041) .  With whom do we hang?  Who are we most comfortable with?  How do we pick our friends and associates?  Too often social snobbery is a factor in how we pick our place of worship.  We look for people who can make us feel comfortable instead of a place to serve.

It is interesting how the Holy Spirit works through something like a simple blog.  Yesterday the verse I focused on had the idea of the “lowly” but used the word “afflicted.”  Yesterday I saw the focus as being on our own attitude, feeling sorry for ourselves.  Today what speaks to me is our attitude toward others.

I think this may be one of the reasons that the Bible is talked about as a two-edged sword.  The truths are meant to be applied in our outward lives and our inward attitudes.
(Hebrews 4:12 KJV)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
So what about that smelly guy you stood next to in line yesterday?  You don’t need to let him marry your daughter but you do need to remember that Jesus died for him as much as He died for you.  Look around today and see who else Jesus loves.

2 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Your post is spot-on. I find it interesting that the destitute and the "serving class" can be just as snobbish as anyone else, though. I suppose it's over-compensation for low self-esteem.

Pumice said...

I think I would do more than match you, I would raise you one and say that often the peasants of the world are more snobbish. In class based countries like England they sometimes seem to wallow in it. Part of that Original Sin thing.

Grace and peace.