Wednesday (A Proverb a Day)

Battling pride is the age-old battle. Humility is the challenge, and pride is the easy way out.

Wednesday (A Proverb a Day)

This week's devotions are written by my son, Bryant Forshee, Lead Student Pastor for Cross Church, Springdale, AR campus.

- Pastor Danny

"Without revelation people run wild,
but one who follows divine instruction will be happy...
A person's pride will humble him,
but a humble spirit will gain honor."

(Proverbs 29:18, 23 CSB)

If you have not, go ahead and read Proverbs 29! Today I want to look at two verses: 18 and 23.

In a world that is obsessed with happiness, Proverbs 29:18 is a promise to cling to and try to apply every day to your life. If you have read Proverbs 29, then you are close to the happiness it discusses, because you have read divine instruction! The word "revelation" in verse 18 is talking about the word of God. It is evident that those who do not live by or have the word of God "run wild". It doesn't take much looking around to notice lots of people who do not heed the words of God or try to live out the principles and commands of scripture. But the author of this proverb gives a cure for running wild: following divine instruction. It is interesting to me that the writer chooses to say "one who follows divine instruction". It is not just HAVING divine instruction, but we must CHOOSE to FOLLOW divine instruction. The promise for this following is that you will be happy, or blessed, as the ESV says.

Today: Follow divine instruction if you want to be happy and blessed!

Proverbs 29:23 is a tough one. Humility is the challenge, and pride is the easy way out. I don't know about you, but it doesn't take much for me to think that my way is the best way, that I always have the right away, that other people are not as smart as me, or other people aren't as good at something as I am. Now, ashamedly, I admit that these thoughts come into my mind, but these are not conceived based on outcomes and scenarios in life; they really just pop into my head, and I get to choose in those moments whether I am going to be prideful and dwell on them or if I am going to take every thought captive to humble myself and quickly realize that I am NOT all that!

Battling pride is the age-old battle, and verse 23 compares the end results of pride with being humble. We, as followers of Jesus, would all say we want to be humble like Christ (Philippians 2); however, when we are honest with ourselves, we realize it's a daily battle. Here are two passages to help you and me choose humility: 2 Corinthians 10:5 and John 15:5.

Today: To remain humble, take every thought captive and remind yourself that you can do nothing apart from Christ!