Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Timely Teaching for Turbulent Times”
Week 3 of 6: “The Impact of Humility!”
Full Sunday message, CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Pride and the Proverbs
“You’re wrong!”
“No, I’m not!”
“Yes, you are!”
Ever been in an argument that you are convinced you were right? AND it was so irritating that the other person wouldn’t back down?
Is it possible that pride was involved? Is it probable that you or the other person was unwilling to be curious about the other’s position?
Proverbs 13:10 says, “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
How does pride breed quarrels?
Pride leads me to think I always am right or need to be right. Pride closes my ears to hearing another person’s point of view to honestly evaluate it. Pride seeks to win the argument to satisfy my ego. Pride can’t look foolish, even when I am on the wrong side of the argument.
You might even say pride is looking for quarrels. Proverbs says pride ‘breeds’ quarrels. Quarrels are the offspring of pride. How is that? Pride seeks to be validated. Often validation comes from winning the argument. Validation comes from putting another person “in their place.” Validation comes by always having the right answer. So quarrels provide a forum for me to validate myself that I am right and of superior skill or intellect.
But few people like arguing…let alone arguing with a person full of pride.
Arguing because of pride is foolish. It limits your understanding and ruins relationships.
On the other hand, “wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Those who take advice are willing to be wrong. They are humble enough to ask questions and inquire of information they don’t know. They are interested in winning an argument, they are interested in discovering the truth. They value people as ones who have information they don’t. They are willing to listen to others experience and wisdom and put it into practice in their own life.
They don’t want to win an argument, they want to gain wisdom.
Pride shuts down the gaining of wisdom. Humility gains wisdom by shutting down pride.
Apply: What wisdom can you gain from someone today? Challenge yourself to engage one person with a few questions to seek advice on a question or project you are working on.
Prayer: Lord, drive out the pride in me that always has to win an argument. Replace it with your Spirit to grow in wisdom by seeking advice from the people you put in my life. AMEN.