My Daily Pause

2 Pride leads only to shame;
it is wise to be humble. – Proverbs 11:2 NCV

Pride is an emotion that is hard to keep in check. We routinely express pride in our children – I think we even find it acceptable for others to do. When looking at how the grown-ups act at the kids’ sports games or other competitions, we should probably start thinking otherwise.

The author of The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas Stanley, has researched the habits and minds of the “average” millionaire for years. Here is an article which illustrates the danger of pride in relation to our finances. It is more often the case that those who become wealthy are humble and work hard with integrity.

Sinful pride comes from unhealthy competition (1 Corinthians 4:6) and from placing value on what is seen rather than what is in the heart (2 Corinthians 5:12). Most of all, pride is not compatible with a loving attitude (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Daily Bible reading for June 16

Proverbs 11-12
Deuteronomy 18
Amos 2:6-16
Matthew 1:1-17

³³ Respect for the Lord will teach you wisdom.
If you want to be honored, you must be humble. – Proverbs 15:33 NCV

Peter reiterates this for us (1 Peter 5:5-6). Was he perhaps thinking of the time the Lord washed his feet? (John 13:4-6)

I ‘M nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there ‘s a pair of us — don’t tell!
They ‘d banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

–Emily Dickinson

Contrast this bit of verse to Galatians 1:10.  It seems the Apostle Paul and Emily Dickinson had the same distaste for trying to please men.