Daily Wisdom

 Est 7:10  "So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai…”.

What hung Haman was his pride (Est 5:11 “And Haman told the of the glory of his riches, … and all the things wherein the king had promoted him.”). Pride can gain a lot of momentum, generate a lot of influence, and build a reputation. But like the gallows Haman hung, one’s pride often ends abruptly. Isaiah 66:2 tells us that the Lord looks upon this man, he that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at His Word. When we submit (humility) and show fear (reverence) to the Word of God, then we don’t have to worry about the end of things; the Lord’s promises will deliver us through.

Start with pride and humility comes calling; start with humility and the Lord keeps you from falling… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Est 2:1 “After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti…”

Interesting passage in that king Ahasuerus was now in memory of what his anger and Vashti, the queen’s, pride brought about. What the king desired was lost by his own decree/law. We often damaged relationships within the family of God with emotional, revengeful, or prideful responses when hurt. Such responses often bring about more remorse than relief, causing appeasement to result in resentment towards oneself. There’s very little in life that cannot be restored to an original or greater value, we must be cautious in our emotional reactions as not to cause more damage. Remember, we’re all in the process of restoration from the Father; likewise let’s focus on restoring and avoid regretting. 

If one’s emotional wellbeing is driven by vindicating who or what is right & wrong, one will be an emotional wreck… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 2Ch 25:19 ‘You say, ‘See, I have struck down Edom,’ and your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness. But now stay at home. Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?’

Amaziah’s willingness to become boastful in God’s favor, brought foolishness with it. A man's pride will bring him low (Pro 29:23); it goes before his destruction, and deservedly brings it on. Even Joash, king of Israel, warned him here in (vs 19) “why provoke trouble.” Amaziah refused the prophet and the Word of God for his own counsel (vs 16); what are we when we offer to establish our own righteousness, or presume to justify ourselves before God? Willing to act outside the Word of God is choosing to lead oneself off his own cliff, that sadly often pulls others over with them.

Pride is the sin where one chooses the wisdom of self over the wisdom of the Saviour… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 2Ch 24:2; 17 ‘And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. (17) Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.’

Men may go far with faithful performances of religion when they humble themselves under proper spiritual leadership. Joash the king of Judah lost his humility and was proven more zealous about the repair of the temple than he was the temple of his own heart. When Joash found the money did not come in to repair the temple as he expected he tried another way, and that answered his intention. Thus, once Jehoiada the priest died, Joash was then led astray and refused to listen to the Lord and served groves and idols of the princes of Judah instead. A faithful life only proves faithful when one stays on the path which lead them to be faithful in the first place. It is easier to build temples than to be temples to God.

Humility seeks proper leadership; pride self-provides its own… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 2Co 10:12 ‘For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.’

The comparison of our conduct cannot be measured or set by man’s standard. Our only comparison should be based on the fruit produced by the Lord in our life and the application of our spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12). It’s not what we do, but what God is able to do through us that’s of worth. Comparing our self to others is an attempt to feel better about ourselves which is pride. But when we measure ourselves to the Lord’s standards, it quickly brings about humility, which is something the Lord can work with!

Don’t compare oneself to others who call themselves Christians, compare oneself to the scriptures which determines a Christian… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

‘Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.’ – Pro 16:18

The greatest threat to ourselves and thus the church is not the persecution from the world or the attacks of satan, but from the carnality of our flesh and our compromise of the truth from within our own heart. 

The danger of pride and haughtiness is the subtle deception that occurs before they become recognizable and ugly. They’re seldom realized as the problem, causing us to be naive in our thinking that we’re above such frailties common to man. One, it causes our flesh to be carnal and self-absorbed in our interest and expectations rather than serving the interest of others in Christlikeness. Two, we can be prone to compromise the truth of God’s Word to the degree of accomplishing our own wishes instead of the Father’s will. 

Pride is a sin that takes you farther than you want to go and keeps you there longer than you want to stay… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Isa 25:11a-12 “… and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands. And the fortress of the high fort they walls shall he bring to the ground, even to dust.”

Since the tower of Babel man has continued to try and build-up that around them bigger than God; including themselves.

But, (vs 7-8) tells us the Lord will remove the oppression and darkness of pride from man’s face and swallow up death in victory and wipe away the tears from all faces.

When the Lord speaks, he does what he says. It is comforting to know that God's plans and activities are directly tied to his word.

Thus, when we pray in humility according to His Word/will and claim His promises, he hears our requests.

We can see Paul proclaim this promise as he quotes part of Isaiah’s prophecy in (1 Cor 15:54) “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Another part of this verse is quoted by John in (Rev 21:4) “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death…”

God's ultimate victory is seen when death, our ultimate enemy, is defeated (Hos 13:14) “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death…”

Cautious, no matter what heights you reach if its platform is pride the fall that’s coming is a fact. (Pro 16:18)

Humility is not cowardice, meekness is not weakness. Rather they are foundations on which God lays His promises.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Isa 39:8 “Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.”

It is just with God to take that from us which we make the matter of our pride, and on which we build a carnal confidence.

Consider David’s pride in numbering his people, God took a course to make them fewer.

Now we see Hezekiah boasts of his treasures, and looks upon them with too great a complacency, he is told that he acts like the foolish traveler who shows his money and gold to one that proves a thief.

If we could but see things that will be, we should be ashamed of our thoughts of things that are.

If Hezekiah had known the successors of Babylon would hereafter be the ruin of his family and kingdom, he would not have been as boastful and complacent with God’s faithfulness.

We cannot certainly foresee what will be, but are told, “All is vanity” (Ecc 1:2), and therefore it is foolish vanity for us to take complacency and confidence/pride were humility should be.

Such confidence/pride in one’s life is prone to lead them into alliance with equal character.

Hezekiah thought himself to be very happy in his friendship with Babylon, though it was the mother of harlots and idolatry. 

And what started off as good courtship brought about the fall of Jerusalem… (1 Cor 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” NASB)

Point being: Hezekiah got a what he wanted, but what he got wasn’t worth having!

Hezekiah came to know God’s blessings and deliverance for his family and kingdom would end with him (vs 8).

Why, he left his humility and, in his confidence/pride walked out of God’s will into folly and vanity?

Be careful with choices that change God’s course, it can also change your source for confidence

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Pro 13:10 “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”

In Judges 8:1-2, after Gideon had attacked and defeated the generals of the Midianites, separating from their fleeing army, Gideon called in Ephraim to “clean up” the escaping forces (“gleaning of the grapes”).  But, Ephraim's leaders felt left out because Gideon hadn’tt called them to join the onset of the battle, so they angrily confronted him. Gideon assured the leaders of Ephraim that their accomplishment was even greater than his own clan's. Not every necessary job is a highly visible or leadership role. Much of the necessary labor of any effective enterprise and ministry is considered by many to be dirty work or unfulfilling. But such work is vital to getting any task done, especially for the Lord. Engineers and millionaires may design and finance an elegant building, but it is the labors who get the work done. Pride causes us to want recognition; are you content to be God's bricklayer? There’s little press and thus prestige in the mission field, and yet the Lord calls each of us to it daily (Mt 28:19). But most are interested in designing and promoting the ministry rather than fulfilling it by sharing Christ themselves. Never let the recognition of one’s labor become more important than the purpose of the ministry itself.

Truth can be hard to swallow when one’s choking on their pride.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisodm

Jdg 7:2  “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.”

It doesn’t matter how great you are, but rather how great God is. The Lord knew Israel/man would and has a great tendency to boast of his abilities and achievements. Thus, the Lord forced Gideon and his men into a desperate need for the Lord to intervene on their behalf, otherwise they were hopeless in their own ability.  Too many apply their faith and trust in the Lord by how big of a safety net they have. Gideon being reduced from 22,000 men to 300 not only eliminated his safety net, but also any hope of victory by his own power. Even though his visual odds had greatly diminished, Gideon was still willing to put the battle into God’s hands and in doing so saw God’ hands in it when the Lord delivered victory for Israel over the Midianites.  Seldom will you see a boastful person who is thankful, or a thankful person who is boastful (Jdgs 8:23). They say shallow streams make the most noise, silent waters run deep. If you have to boast about all of the material things achieved in your life, it’s probably because there isn’t much else to it!

Boasting makes you seem less impressive, not more impressive. If it’s worthy others will make it known (Pro 27:2).

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Deut 32:15 “But Jeshurun (Israel) waxed fat, and kicked: thou are waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.”

Be careful what you seek to obtain, it might be outside your obligations to God (Pro 1:32 “… the prosperity of fools destroy them.”). Israel were upright people (so some), wisdom in the knowledge of God, a seeing people first hand of God’s goodness and provision. But they fell in two areas. (1.) They grew fat and thick in their indulgence and all manners of luxury and self-gratification. In doing so they grew wieldy and unmindful concerning the source of their provision, blinded by their worldly girth. Causing them to “kick” in their pride, as if lifting their heel against God. When God rebuked them by either the prophets or His providence, they “kicked” back like an untamed heifer and a yoke. (2.) They fell into worldly idolatry, which the former lead them to. Forsaking the God that made them (vss 16; 17) and replaced Him with strange worldly gods that entertained and indulged them.  As absurd as a new god would be, they chose new paths and forsook the old ones (Jer 6:16 “… seek and ask for the old paths, the good way…”) causing them to fall for the necessity of newness. Both issues drove Israel to “lightly esteem” (let wilt, faint, fall way) their “Rock of salvation” (Isa 17:10-11). Such causes one to forget how good it was, until they realize how bad it is (prodigal son Lk 15:11-32).

Don’t let God’s provisions be misapplied, producing a prideful and pompous heart!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Lam 3:41 “Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”

In this passage (vss 39-42) we’re guided to respond properly to God’s faithfulness through prayer (lifting of the hands is a prayer gesture – Psa 141:2 “Let my prayer be set forth, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”). Just as parent’s discipline children to produce right behavior, God disciplines us to produce right living and true worship. Our prayer must not be towards complaining about corrective or instructive discipline in our lives but learn from it, and be willing to trust and allow God’s actions to make a change. But the heart must go with the gesture, or it’s of no avail; the soul must be lifted to God in earnest desire towards Him in faith, hope and love (1 Th 5:8). The scripture urges man to search out his faults and amend them, like your child, if their willing to change and correct their actions, you don’t have to do it for them.

Pride is not pride because it hates being wrong, but because it hates to admit it’s wrong: to hate being wrong is to change your opinion when proven wrong; whereas pride, even when proven wrong, refuses change and decides to continue being wrong.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” Jam 4:10

If you’re fearful of falling, keep yourself planted on the ground. The harder you strive to gain great heights the more prone you’re to falling in the process. When David got word of Saul and Johnathan’s death before the Amalekites he mourned greatly, but he stated in 2 Sam 1:19; 27 “how the mighty have fallen…”   In Saul’s case, the fall came before the sword that killed him. Saul had already falling before God… 1 Sam 28:6 Saul inquires of the Lord who answered him not, prompting Samuel himself to tell Saul in (vs 16) “… seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy.”  Learning from Saul who was a great man and was handpicked by God himself to rule Israel, fell from God’s protection…  Unconfessed sin or an unwillingness to humble oneself before God will eventually bring anyone down.  Self-promotion will lead to self-destruction. Be less focused on the mountain’s peak and more focused on standing in the Lord’s will, and He’ll lift you to heights without you having to worry about falling (Pro 16:18).  Seldom does God pick one from the mountain top, unless it’s an unfortunate example; but He did choose the disciples from the lowest of elevation, from the sea shore!

Pride can be like bad breath, everyone knows you have it except you!

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“…God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” Jam 4:6 

D.L. Moody states “God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.” Pride works as a cancer, it consumes the very possibility of love, contentment and even common sense. Pride self-promotes a person into placing themselves in a position with a point of view of looking down on others; thus, eliminating the possibility of looking above. It produces bad spiritual posture. God “resists the proud” it’s the one trait that works as a spiritual hindrance or dividing wall in your relationship with God. The challenge is we all have pride to a point, that essence of self that rears its ugly head in our lives. Pride is an independent, ME-oriented spirit that resides in the heart. When our heart is prideful, we don’t give God the due credit and in turn look down on others and often missing the blessing in them. Pride is like a weed that begins to harvest itself amongst the spiritual-fruit in your life, and chokes it out. While the opposite is humility, where grace abounds. Humility is the ultimate Christ-likeness we can embody: Phl 2:7 “But made himself (Christ) of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant…” By this Christ was able to influence those around him. We will never influence change in the world by the pride of going to church. We will only change a world through humility and being the church. Don’t get blinded in your pride and become focused on who is right. But rather live with humility, and stay focused on what is right.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.”

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” 1 Cor 8:9

Paul illustrates his point by responding to the Corinthians concerning the consumption of meat that was sacrificed to false gods as being neither morally better or worse for them (1 Cor 6:12).  But, if their consumption causes another to stumble and/or morally, spiritually injure themselves it must be avoided. Your liberty ends where another's begins concerning their benefit. You may have a right abstractly to such actions, but God warns it will not be prudent or wise on your part to exercise it (Lev 19:14). Don’t be a stumblingblock to the weak for an occasion for sin (Rom 4:13) it’s too costly for all involved: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones (spiritually weak) which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Mt 18:6). The majority of Christians are “little ones” in some area of their lives, of which you don’t know and thus must be a cause for caution “Giving no offence in anything, that the (your) ministry be not blamed.” (2 Cor 6:3)  Let your actions and ministry be as a stepping stone towards Christ, not a stumblingblock of hindrance. If rejection to the truth and accountability to your siblings in Christ is a stumblingblock for you, then pride becomes your problem.

“Inconsistent professors of Christ are the greatest stumbingblocks to the spread of Christ!”

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.” Isa 10:33

The humble win! We know pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall (Pro 16:18). The problem with pride is its blindness to weakness and the inability to anticipate stumbling blocks; as it did the angels who sinned, and through pride fell into condemnation. Adam and Eve who were not content in their lot and desiring to be more and in need of more fell in their desired prosperity; as with many after them. Pride is like an unfulfilled appetite, always consuming contentment, wisdom and sacrifice. It leads one far away from God’s judgments, and yet they’re never closer to it; pride should be a great fear for one and all. Pride is the great separator between God and man; we can’t let go of self to grasp what we need.

Humility may hurt, but not as bad as a fall!

HSAY …Todd