God Eyes

(Proverbs 30:13 KJV)  There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

Arrogance is a killing attitude.  The idea of pride, or “lofty” (7311) eyes, is a repeated theme.  It is rooted in the garden of Eden.  Ultimately it involves trying to be gods ourselves.

(Ezekiel 28:2 KJV)  Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

Keep in mind the words of the serpent to Eve,

(Genesis 3:5 KJV)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

In our schools we teach evolution that says man is the highest form of being.  In the cults they end up expecting to be gods. 

The Christian faith is built on bowing the knee to almighty God.  We keep forgetting that we exist for His pleasure, not the other way around.

So?  Heart check or eye check.  Either way I am asking God to keep me humble and un-exalted. 

The Diet of Life

(Proverbs 1:31 KJV)  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

I wonder what people who read this in ancient times would have seen in the writings of Solomon.  The first thought that came to me was the “fruit” (6529) of the Spirit but that scripture had not been written.  Then I remembered another place where the Bible spoke of  eating fruit.

(Genesis 3:3 KJV)  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Maybe Solomon had this in mind. 

The problem in Genesis was not eating, it was in eating their own way.  It was an attitude of rebellion that insisted that Eve knew better than God.  I believe that is the reason people reject Jesus today.  He demands to be Lord.  He demands that our knee shall bow.  We don’ like that.

So?  Who determines the diet of your life?  Are your spiritual knees stiff.  Is your spiritual neck arrogant.  Maybe it is time for some stretching exercises. 

Frosted Flakes Are Not Prudent

(Proverbs 14:15 KJV)  The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

What is the difference between being “prudent” (6175) and being cynical?  In our modern culture the two are often linked together.  Prudent people don’t know how to let go and have fun.  They always doubt what politicians promise them.  They don’t believe the newspapers.  They are negative and cynical.  No, they are prudent.

As you look through the way the word is used in Proverbs, prudence is linked with knowledge and seeing what is around you.  A prude compares what he hears with what he knows.  The prude knows a lot because he pays attention and remembers. 

Prudence is also one of those words that can be instruments of evil or good.  It is the word that describes the devil as he jockeyed to deceive Eve.

(Genesis 3:1 KJV)  Now the serpent was more subtil (sic) {6175) than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

It is also used in Proverbs to describe the righteous.

So?  Leave the sugar coating for you donuts and breakfast cereal.  Look at life as it is in the light of the power and promises of God.  It makes a difference, or it should.

Patterns of Pride

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

God seems to have a special hostility toward the “proud” (1343).  Pride starts with a focus on the self.  The attitudes fed by our sinful nature make us chant “me,me,me.”  We become myopic.  It is like focusing on your thumb two inches from your eye.  Most of the world is blocked out and what is visible seems smaller than your thumb.

Then pride looks down on those around it.  The Christian life is a pattern of putting others first, self sacrifice and golden rules.  All that is set aside from over inflated self esteem.

Ultimately it causes us to look down on God.  Remember the argument used by Satan in the Garden

(Gen 3:5 KJV)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Ultimately sin is rebellion against God as God.  It is putting our plans and desire above His.

So?  Who has planned your day?  Yes, I know you have to go to work but you can choose how you do your work.  In the long term you can choose what work you do.  Your way or His?