Taking Glory

There is a trap that I have been involved in far too many times. It is the trap of building myself up to other people, making myself bigger than I really was at the time. In truth I am no bigger than I was then, no better than I was then. If I am bigger and better, it is solely because of the Lord in my life.

"Be not forward [self-assertive and boastfully ambitious] in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men; for better is it that it be said to you, Come up here, than you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whose eyes have seen you." Proverbs 25:6-7, Amplified

Jesus spoke the very same words to His disciples. "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest anyone more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you." (Luke 14:8-10, NKJV) It's simple: do not take glory for yourself, rather allow glory to overtake you.

Pride and Humility 2 (Proverbs 18:12)

I love the dichotomies of the Bible. Her is yet another one dealing with pride and humility.

"Haughtiness comes before disaster, and humility before honor." Proverbs 18:12, Amplified

Haughtiness is an archaic word pertaining to pride. Pride will always precede disaster. The captain of the Titanic was a very prideful person who was warned about the possible dangers. Instead of heeding to the advice of less distinguished persons, he proceeded the way he felt best. What happened next is a piece of tragic history that everyone one knows about.

When it comes to pride, it becomes a sin when it eclipses everyone around you as well as the Lord. I am proud of my kids. I am also proud of certain achievements in my life. However, my focus is not diverted from the Lord. I still have a clear understanding of who He is in my life.

The second part of this verse deals with humility. If we are to humble ourselves, then we will be honored. Jesus Himself stated, "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest anyone more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will give glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:8-11, NKJV)

Pride and humility are the antithesis of each other. If you are one, you cannot be the other. The throne of the heart has room for one king. Is it you or Jesus?

Pride and Humility (Proverbs 16:18-19)

Pride is the antithesis of the Christian spirit. Pride allows no room for anyone else including Jesus Christ. Pride has destroyed many people and I fear that it is far from finished for pride has a voracious appetite.

"Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18, Amplified

This has to be one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. I have always heard that pride goes before the fall, but no, it is the haughty spirit that brings about the fall. Haughtiness is very similar to pride, but is in itself an entirely different beast. It is defined by Webster's as arrogance.

This haughtiness reminds me of another person in the Bible: Lucifer. In Isaiah we get a glimpse as to why he fell. "For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'" (Isaiah 14:13-14, NKJV) "I will's" leave no room for "we can's".

When we exalt ourselves, be sure that a fall is coming. Pride and arrogance are twin sisters whose soul purpose is to bring men (and women) down.

"Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the meek and the poor, than to divide the spoil with the proud." Proverbs 16:19, Amplified

It is far better to be humble than proud. Jesus spoke many different times on this very same subject. Pride leaves us rigid and breakable. Humility leaves us soft an moldable. "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying: 'Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.' Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, at it seemed good to the potter to make. Then he word of the Lord came to me, saying: 'O house of Israel, can I not do with you as the potter?' says the Lord. 'Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so you are in My hand, O house of Israel!'" (Jeremiah 18:1-6, NKJV)

An unfinished pot can constantly be reshaped and reformed in to another vessel. Water can always be added to the clay to keep it pliable. God is not finished with the earthen vessel that writes this devotion. I am not ready for the kiln till He says that I am finished. When will that be? I do not know. But until then I want to remain pliable and workable.