"Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him." (Proverbs 26:12 KJV)
"The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason." (Proverbs 26:14 KJV)
To be wise in your own conceit is to be wise in your own eyes and puffed up with foolish pride. I believe the reason why there is so little hope for one wise in his own conceit is there is neither humility nor willingness to listen to someone who is wiser. When you know it all, why should you have to listen to anyone else? In fact, there is no need to even listen to seven people who are right, when you think you are smarter than they are. I can remember having some discussions when I was younger where even though I knew I was wrong, I wouldn't back down. That's a really bad attitude to have.
Conceit is dangerous because it makes a person unteachable and uncorrectable. It is a roadblock set up across the path to wisdom and understanding. Have you ever met someone who told lots of stories about his accomplishments that just didn't seem to add up? Have you ever embellished things to make yourself look more impressive to others? These are symptomatic of the disease of conceit, as Bob Dylan calls it.
Rather than be wise in our own conceit, we need to be wise in the eyes of the Lord. We need to understand the way He sees things and use His standard as our measuring tool, rather than our own yardstick. We need to understand that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself in the sight of the Lord will be lifted up.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Disease of Conceit (Bob Dylan)
Since I first heard it some years ago, I've really liked the song "Disease of Conceit" by Bob Dylan off of Oh Mercy from 1989. Since today's two verses from Proverbs both deal with conceit, I thought it appropriate to post a youtube "video" for it here. Unfortunately there is no actual video, just a shot of the album cover. There's lots of wisdom in it, so if you haven't given it a listen, what are you waiting for?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Proverbs 25:28
"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls." (Proverbs 25:28 NKJV)
Having rule over one's spirit is about having self-control (Galatians 5:23). When we lack it we leave ourselves vulnerable to attack from the enemy. If we don't have self-control when it comes to food, he will exploit that weakness to where eating becomes an escape from dealing with issues. As a by-product of this faltering, we jeopardize our health also.
If a man lacks self-control when it comes to the opposite sex, he can get into all kinds of trouble. Lust is an issue for many of us, and it's one I've had to contend with in my life. The problem is for years, rather than starve that sinful appetite, I fed it. Not with pornography, but with fantasizing. While keeping my struggle a secret to others, I tried to find justification for my behavior. By the way, if you're looking to justify something you know is wrong, you'll always be able to find ungodly counsel to support it. On the outside I probably seemed fine, but on the inside I was bound, and in fact, an adulterer in the way Jesus defines it. I had practically given the enemy keys to the city. It wasn't until I genuinely came clean and repented, that I experienced true deliverance.
There are any number of things that can become compulsive; some need to be moderated and others should be avoided altogether. If we apply ourselves to the word of Almighty God, completely open our lives to Him and be filled and refilled with His Holy Spirit, self-control can be made manifest and we can experience victory. Further, we need deep relationships with others with whom we can share our struggles in confidence, and they with us. In other words, we need mutual accountability.
Having rule over one's spirit is about having self-control (Galatians 5:23). When we lack it we leave ourselves vulnerable to attack from the enemy. If we don't have self-control when it comes to food, he will exploit that weakness to where eating becomes an escape from dealing with issues. As a by-product of this faltering, we jeopardize our health also.
If a man lacks self-control when it comes to the opposite sex, he can get into all kinds of trouble. Lust is an issue for many of us, and it's one I've had to contend with in my life. The problem is for years, rather than starve that sinful appetite, I fed it. Not with pornography, but with fantasizing. While keeping my struggle a secret to others, I tried to find justification for my behavior. By the way, if you're looking to justify something you know is wrong, you'll always be able to find ungodly counsel to support it. On the outside I probably seemed fine, but on the inside I was bound, and in fact, an adulterer in the way Jesus defines it. I had practically given the enemy keys to the city. It wasn't until I genuinely came clean and repented, that I experienced true deliverance.
There are any number of things that can become compulsive; some need to be moderated and others should be avoided altogether. If we apply ourselves to the word of Almighty God, completely open our lives to Him and be filled and refilled with His Holy Spirit, self-control can be made manifest and we can experience victory. Further, we need deep relationships with others with whom we can share our struggles in confidence, and they with us. In other words, we need mutual accountability.
Proverbs 24:30-34
30 I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
(Proverbs 24:30-34 NKJV)
Laziness is one of those things which might seem the most benign of offenses. I mean when you put it up against cheating, stealing, slandering or assaulting it really doesn't look so bad at all. But it is bad. This passage depicts a man who is lazy and without understanding. This is someone who does not comprehend the deeper reasons for his existence. He takes no heed to wisdom because he has never pursued it in the first place. We see the picture of someone who is both a mental and physical sluggard.
I must confess: I am not one of those guys with a neatly manicured lawn accented by lovely flower beds and perfectly trimmed hedges. Well, we don't have hedges, but you get the point. You're not likely to ever see our yard in the pages of Better Homes and Gardens. (Don't get me wrong, our property is not on the blight list either.) There are a few reasons for this. For one, yard work is just not a passion of mine. I do it more by necessity than anything else. Secondly, most folks who have those lush, green lawns pay a pretty penny to have them so. Thirdly, in the scheme of things I just don't see it as worth that much of my time. And there's the rub. Because I don't particularly enjoy it, I tend to place it toward the bottom of my priority list. But there is great wisdom for me in this passage from Proverbs.
My yard says something about me; it is a public display which can either indicate that I take pride in how it looks or I don't really give a hoot. My yard is my responsibility, whether I like it or not. There may be extenuating circumstances which prevent me from attending to it at times, but the bottom line is that no one else is going to do it for me. The condition of my yard and the exterior of my home may also say something about my neighborliness. A nice yard and kept up home can be an expression of hospitality and respect. If done with right motives, yard work can be something we do unto the Lord and because we care about our neighbors. How I spend my time, in general, tells a lot about what is important to me.
The above passage challenges me in the area of using my time wisely. It's interesting that Jesus, in the parable of the sower, spoke of a seed that was choked out by thorns. The seed, he tells us, is the word of YHWH, while the thorns represent the cares of this world. Sometimes my spiritual life can be neglected when I allow worldly concerns to consume too much of my time. What a waste of a field if I allow it to be overgrown with thorns and nettles, rather than abundant with crops that will provide not only for my family, but others in need. What a waste of life if I fail to set priorites and fritter away the precious time the Lord gives me. Poor planning and poor use of time will eventually lead to being poor. One who is lazy not only fails to consider the well-being of his family and their future, but also fails to store up treasure in heaven.
May each of us be diligent and use our time wisely that we may live productive lives that bear fruit for the blessing of others and to the glory of the Lord of the Harvest.
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
(Proverbs 24:30-34 NKJV)
Laziness is one of those things which might seem the most benign of offenses. I mean when you put it up against cheating, stealing, slandering or assaulting it really doesn't look so bad at all. But it is bad. This passage depicts a man who is lazy and without understanding. This is someone who does not comprehend the deeper reasons for his existence. He takes no heed to wisdom because he has never pursued it in the first place. We see the picture of someone who is both a mental and physical sluggard.
I must confess: I am not one of those guys with a neatly manicured lawn accented by lovely flower beds and perfectly trimmed hedges. Well, we don't have hedges, but you get the point. You're not likely to ever see our yard in the pages of Better Homes and Gardens. (Don't get me wrong, our property is not on the blight list either.) There are a few reasons for this. For one, yard work is just not a passion of mine. I do it more by necessity than anything else. Secondly, most folks who have those lush, green lawns pay a pretty penny to have them so. Thirdly, in the scheme of things I just don't see it as worth that much of my time. And there's the rub. Because I don't particularly enjoy it, I tend to place it toward the bottom of my priority list. But there is great wisdom for me in this passage from Proverbs.
My yard says something about me; it is a public display which can either indicate that I take pride in how it looks or I don't really give a hoot. My yard is my responsibility, whether I like it or not. There may be extenuating circumstances which prevent me from attending to it at times, but the bottom line is that no one else is going to do it for me. The condition of my yard and the exterior of my home may also say something about my neighborliness. A nice yard and kept up home can be an expression of hospitality and respect. If done with right motives, yard work can be something we do unto the Lord and because we care about our neighbors. How I spend my time, in general, tells a lot about what is important to me.
The above passage challenges me in the area of using my time wisely. It's interesting that Jesus, in the parable of the sower, spoke of a seed that was choked out by thorns. The seed, he tells us, is the word of YHWH, while the thorns represent the cares of this world. Sometimes my spiritual life can be neglected when I allow worldly concerns to consume too much of my time. What a waste of a field if I allow it to be overgrown with thorns and nettles, rather than abundant with crops that will provide not only for my family, but others in need. What a waste of life if I fail to set priorites and fritter away the precious time the Lord gives me. Poor planning and poor use of time will eventually lead to being poor. One who is lazy not only fails to consider the well-being of his family and their future, but also fails to store up treasure in heaven.
May each of us be diligent and use our time wisely that we may live productive lives that bear fruit for the blessing of others and to the glory of the Lord of the Harvest.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Proverbs 23:24-25
"The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your mother and your father be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice." (Proverbs 23:24-25 NKJV)
Though I'm not yet a father, this verse brings me great joy when I reflect on it. I have a vision of a mom and dad (maybe my wife and I), beaming with pride and gratitude, not for a child who was necessarily the brightest academically, or who excelled on the athletic field or even who was a boy scout or girl scout. No. These smiles are the result of having a son or daughter who walks in integrity, choosing to live by God's standards rather than the world's. A child who becomes an example for Christ, rather than caving into peer pressure which would pull him or her in the opposite direction. This is a child who has gained wisdom and exercises it, loving the Lord first and then his neighbour as himself.
Does all of this sound more than a little idealistic rather than realistic? I think in many ways we've given up on raising children who are righteous and wise, believing it's not really possible anyway. We're inclined to believe that it's ridiculous to think kids won't experiment with drinking and drugs and premarital sex, therefore we concede in these area. We seem to be content with raising a child who got decent grades, earned at least a bachelor's degree, didn't get in too much trouble and is now gainfully employed and making a good salary. Perhaps he's even met a nice young lady and they've married and are now raising children of their own. Sounds sort of like the American dream, doesn't it?
The thing is, it's really all built on a weak foundation if it is not built on Yeshua. It's the proverbial house of cards. And even if it should last, it's only success by the world's standards. Let me just say this: even if your child has already gone off track in some areas, it's never too late to live righteously. It's never to late to aquire and apply the wisdom of the Father. And, obviously, the methods of parenting have everything to do with achieving such results. It must come from parents who lead by example, stay in the word, and pray. It comes from parents who are proactive in addressing the needs and concerns of their child, rather than trying to clean up messes afterward. By the way, I do understand that doing the right things as a parent does not always mean the child will follow suit, but it sure does greatly increase the percentages.
Lastly, I think there's another element to this. When we follow His commands and do what pleases Him, our heavenly Father rejoices too!
Though I'm not yet a father, this verse brings me great joy when I reflect on it. I have a vision of a mom and dad (maybe my wife and I), beaming with pride and gratitude, not for a child who was necessarily the brightest academically, or who excelled on the athletic field or even who was a boy scout or girl scout. No. These smiles are the result of having a son or daughter who walks in integrity, choosing to live by God's standards rather than the world's. A child who becomes an example for Christ, rather than caving into peer pressure which would pull him or her in the opposite direction. This is a child who has gained wisdom and exercises it, loving the Lord first and then his neighbour as himself.
Does all of this sound more than a little idealistic rather than realistic? I think in many ways we've given up on raising children who are righteous and wise, believing it's not really possible anyway. We're inclined to believe that it's ridiculous to think kids won't experiment with drinking and drugs and premarital sex, therefore we concede in these area. We seem to be content with raising a child who got decent grades, earned at least a bachelor's degree, didn't get in too much trouble and is now gainfully employed and making a good salary. Perhaps he's even met a nice young lady and they've married and are now raising children of their own. Sounds sort of like the American dream, doesn't it?
The thing is, it's really all built on a weak foundation if it is not built on Yeshua. It's the proverbial house of cards. And even if it should last, it's only success by the world's standards. Let me just say this: even if your child has already gone off track in some areas, it's never too late to live righteously. It's never to late to aquire and apply the wisdom of the Father. And, obviously, the methods of parenting have everything to do with achieving such results. It must come from parents who lead by example, stay in the word, and pray. It comes from parents who are proactive in addressing the needs and concerns of their child, rather than trying to clean up messes afterward. By the way, I do understand that doing the right things as a parent does not always mean the child will follow suit, but it sure does greatly increase the percentages.
Lastly, I think there's another element to this. When we follow His commands and do what pleases Him, our heavenly Father rejoices too!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Proverbs 22:3
"A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished." (Proverbs 22:3 NKJV)
The truth of this proverb is far reaching. To be prudent means to exercise good judgment, common sense and caution. Such a one who can see a coming storm that will bring great destruction will take necessary precautions to avoid calamity. The idea of forseeing is emphasized by Jesus Himself when He told his disciples to watch and pray (Matt. 26:41, Mark 13:33 and Mark 14:38). Watching in the sense He is referring to means to be alert and vigilant, to have an awareness of what's going on. If we were able to foresee a hurricane coming, wouldn't it be best to take appropriate measures to protect ourselves?
Sadly, some choose to ride the storm out while ignoring the danger. In the same way, those in the time of Noah were unconcerned with the warnings of a coming flood which would bring total destruction. So it is today, that many who are told of hell and eternal damnation for those apart from Christ refuse to consider His claims. Just like those scoffers who perished in the great flood, there are many today who think it's a bunch of nonsense and they live accordingly at their own peril. They just pass on by, going about their business as time is ticking away while death and the second coming of Christ both draw near. Some of them equate hiding with weakness, but when it comes to evil it is not so!
David, who was certainly no coward, saw things this way:
"You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7 NAS)
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1 NAS)
YHWH is our hiding place in times of trouble, in evil times. We need to exercise prudence and forsesight to know when evil is approaching so that we can prepare ourselves, so that we'll know to run to Him rather than keep going forward while ignoring all of the danger signs. At the same time, we also have a responsibility to sound the alarm and let others know what is coming. There is no guarantee they will take heed, and it is up to each person to decide for himself. I am so thankful we have Almighty God, our Deliverer as One who will shelter and protect us in times of evil.
The truth of this proverb is far reaching. To be prudent means to exercise good judgment, common sense and caution. Such a one who can see a coming storm that will bring great destruction will take necessary precautions to avoid calamity. The idea of forseeing is emphasized by Jesus Himself when He told his disciples to watch and pray (Matt. 26:41, Mark 13:33 and Mark 14:38). Watching in the sense He is referring to means to be alert and vigilant, to have an awareness of what's going on. If we were able to foresee a hurricane coming, wouldn't it be best to take appropriate measures to protect ourselves?
Sadly, some choose to ride the storm out while ignoring the danger. In the same way, those in the time of Noah were unconcerned with the warnings of a coming flood which would bring total destruction. So it is today, that many who are told of hell and eternal damnation for those apart from Christ refuse to consider His claims. Just like those scoffers who perished in the great flood, there are many today who think it's a bunch of nonsense and they live accordingly at their own peril. They just pass on by, going about their business as time is ticking away while death and the second coming of Christ both draw near. Some of them equate hiding with weakness, but when it comes to evil it is not so!
David, who was certainly no coward, saw things this way:
"You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7 NAS)
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1 NAS)
YHWH is our hiding place in times of trouble, in evil times. We need to exercise prudence and forsesight to know when evil is approaching so that we can prepare ourselves, so that we'll know to run to Him rather than keep going forward while ignoring all of the danger signs. At the same time, we also have a responsibility to sound the alarm and let others know what is coming. There is no guarantee they will take heed, and it is up to each person to decide for himself. I am so thankful we have Almighty God, our Deliverer as One who will shelter and protect us in times of evil.
Friday, August 21, 2009
the ol' pup is under the weather
Max, Maxley, Max, Maximillian, Mr. Baxter. Whatever you'd like to call him, our dog isn't feeling so well. It seems he may have bladder cancer. The doctor told us it's inoperable because of where in particular it's located. I've done a bit of research and have found some homeopathic remedies containing milk thistle, mistletoe and other natural ingredients that may help. We've been blessed to have him for as many years as we have and if we have any say in it we'd like him to stick around a little longer. I've had him since he was about one year old and he's sixteen now. Denise and I have been married for just about five years and she's really become attached to him as you might imagine. And this is a woman who was born and raised on an island where pets were always kept outside!
"Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; thy judgements are a great deep: thou, O Lord, preservest both man and beast." (Psalm 36:6 KJV)
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