Overview
The varied statements of common sense in today's reading are descriptions of the perils facing the wise and the unwise, character sketches of the poor and mighty, and value judgments upon things which appear to be good and things which are good. Through it all, Solomon sees God at work in the hearts and affairs of people, helping them to avoid flattery and falsehood, and to display obedient behavior instead. |
Your Daily Walk
What is it dial keeps you from seeing yourself as you really are, others from seeing you as you wish you really were, and God from helping you become what you would really like to be?
As you ponder that riddle, take a look at the lesson contained in 18:12. (It's so important, you'll find it also in 16:18-19.)
Pride—in yourself, your possessions, your abilities—brings destruction. Humility—before God, before others, before yourself—brings honor. God delights in raising up the lowly (15:33), but He despises the proud (6:16-17; 16:5). A proud person fights himself (8:36), others (13; 10), and God (16:5), and eventually his end is destruction. Just as pride caused Lucifer to want to be greater than God (Isaiah 14:12-14), resulting in condemnation (1 Timothy 3:6), so pride can ruin your life. Look for opportunities today to exercise humility instead. Nothing is as hard to do gracefully as getting down off your high horse—and nothing is as necessary! Look for one person whose needs and interests you can place above your own today. Go out of your way to express a word of sincere appreciation. Remember, all you have and are is given to you by God (1 Corinthians 4:7).
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