DAY 1 – JUNE 13
TITLE: “PRIDE IS THE COSTLY CHOICE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: PROVERBS 11:2,
13:10, 15:33, 18:12, 22:4 25:6-7 & 29:23
DAILY SCRIPTURE
Key Verse: “When
pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility
comes wisdom.” Proverbs
11:2
Pastor Bill White tells this story. “I recently took a 45-minute drive in an old, beat-up van with a guy I barely know. Along the way, we ended up talking about Jesus and whether this man would give his life to Christ. His response to me laid out humanity's resistance to the gospel with striking clarity. He said, ‘My biggest problem is pride. I can't humble myself. And you wanna know the reason I can't give up my pride?’ He leaned up onto the steering wheel and paused for effect. ‘Because it's brought me so far.’"
Pastor White said, “I couldn't believe my ears. I knew that his pride had brought nothing but great pain. It was all he held onto while growing up in gangs—while his father died of a drug overdose and his mother was in the mafia. I knew that this self-made man beat his wife regularly, that he was unemployed, that he had just gotten out of prison. In fact, I found out a week later that he was on his way back into prison!”
Pastor White continued, “In a separate conversation, his wife told me that his young daughters are terrified of him, that he is an alcoholic, and that she is planning to leave him. She even told me that the old van he was driving was going to be repossessed in a week. Yet, despite all our differences, I couldn't help but notice that in some ways, this guy and I are similar. I struggle to lay down my pride, because it's brought me so far—or so I think. What it's really brought both him and me—and you, no doubt—is pain, isolation, and ruined relationships.”
Pride is a trouble-maker. Pride does not sneak in unnoticed. It always brings trouble. Pride is destructive and damaging. It causes disgrace and shame. Pride brings pain and breaks relationship. Pride shackles the soul, keeping us in bondage. Pride is always the costly choice.
Life is filled with choices that impact our lives and the lives of others. Pride results in the wrong choices. Proverbs stresses that humility is the better choice, for humility brings wisdom. Choosing pride can result in stress and turmoil. Choosing humility can result in honesty and healing. Choosing pride can result in tension and disunity. Choosing humility can result in peace and unity. Choosing pride can result in anger and hurt. Choosing humility can result in joy and respect. Choosing pride can result in isolation and loneliness. Choosing humility can result in fulfillment and meaning. What will you choose today?
DAY 2 – JUNE 14
TITLE: “THE TRAGEDY OF PRIDE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: PROVERBS 11:2,
13:10, 15:33, 18:12, 22:4,
25:6-7 & 29:23.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs 18:2
Key Verse: “Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.” Proverbs 18:12
Pride is the road to destruction. It can cause a great man to fall. Pride can rob you of the ministry God wants you to have or the life He wants you to live.
In the Old Testament, we read of a king whose pride was his
downfall. His name was Uzziah. He was the son of Amaziah, Judah’s eleventh king. Uzziah,
who is also called Azariah in Kings, was 16 when he
became king and reigned for 52 years. His reign was the second longest reign in
In many ways, King Uzziah was a great king. Though he did many wonderful things, II Chronicles remembers him for his pride. Here is the story as recorded in II Chronicles 16:16-18. It says, “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. They confronted him and said, ‘It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God.’"
The story of King Uzziah is a sad story of a man who was close to God and richly blessed by Him but whose life was destroyed by pride. He became angry in the temple and broke out with leprosy. Scripture records, “King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house-leprous, and excluded from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.” II Chronicles 26:21
King Uzziah is a piercing example of Proverbs 18:12, and also Proverbs 16:18, which says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” The story of King Uzziah is a story that could easily be titled, “The Tragedy of Pride.”
DAY 3 – JUNE 15
TITLE: “BUT WISDOM”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: PROVERBS 11:2,
13:10, 15:33, 18:12, 22:4,
25:6-7 & 29:23
DAILY SCRIPTURE
Key Verse: “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Proverbs 13:10
I heard a story of a strong young man at a construction site who was bragging that he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength. He made a special case of making fun of one of the older workmen.
After several minutes, the older worker had had enough. "Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" he said. "I'll bet a week's wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that building that you won't be able to wheel back." "You're on, old man," the young worker replied.
The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then, he turned to the young man and said, "All right. Get in."
Can you think of a time recently when pride got you into trouble? Perhaps a quarrel at home or work took place because of pride. The things we do and say that flow from pride can cause a lot of hurt. How do you deal with the trouble that comes as a result of pride?
In his book with Ken Blanchard, Everyone's a Coach, Don Shula tells of losing his temper near an open microphone during a televised game with the Los Angeles Rams. Millions of viewers were surprised and shocked by Shula's explicit profanity. Letters soon arrived from all over the country, voicing the disappointment of many who had respected the coach for his integrity.
Shula could have given excuses, but he didn't. Everyone who included a return address received a personal apology. He closed each letter by stating, "I value your respect and will do my best to earn it again." There are two ways to gain respect. One is to act nobly. The other is, when you fail to do so, to make no excuses.
How do you respond when pride raises its head up in your words or actions? Don’t ignore pride or its effects. Take the path of wisdom. Take it to the Lord and ask for His forgiveness. Ask for forgiveness from those you hurt and depend upon God to give you guidance and victory. Open your heart to advice from God and His word. Listen wisely to others who can speak His truth, admonition, and encouragement into your hearts. Ask God to grant you a listening and teachable heart.
DAY 4 – JUNE 16
TITLE: “ARE YOU A PERSON OF LOWLY
SPIRIT?”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: PROVERBS 11:2,
13:10, 15:33, 18:12, 22:4,
25:6-7, & 29:23
DAILY SCRIPTURE
Key Verse: “Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among great men; it is better for him to say to you, ‘Come up here,' than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.” Proverbs 25:6-7
A truly humble man is hard to find, yet God delights to honor such selfless
people. Booker T. Washington, the renowned black educator, was an outstanding
example of this truth. Shortly after he took over the presidency of Tuskegee
Institute in
The next morning, the embarrassed woman went to see
Mr.
Humility can open doors that pride closes. As I reflect upon this verse and story, I am reminded of a story Jesus told. Having noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he recorded the story recorded in Luke 14:8-11. It says, “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Proverbs 29:23 says, “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.” Are you a person of lowly spirit?
DAY 5 – JUNE 17
TITLE: “THE FEAR OF THE LORD TEACHES”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: PROVERBS 11:2,
13:10, 15:33, 18:12, 22:4 25:6-7 & 29:23
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs
15:33
Key Verse: “The
fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility
comes before honor.” Proverbs 15:33
I have had a
lot of teachers throughout my life. When I think of a teacher, I think of
someone who knows more than the student on a particular subject. I have had
professional teachers in school who have taught me or tried to teach me a
variety of subjects. Many of these
teachers were very knowledgeable in their field. In college, I have had some
professors that were truly brilliant experts in the subjects they taught.
Through my
years of schooling, I have learned something interesting. Regardless of how
great the teacher may be, if someone is not teachable, they will not learn. I
remember hearing a story about a teacher who was asked if someone was a student
of theirs. The teacher responded, “They have been in my class, but they are not
a student.”
The fear of the Lord teaches the student that has a teachable heart. I heard a story about a farmer who was out cutting a log with his saw. A man came by who had passed by earlier, and he noticed the farmer had not made much headway. He was still cutting at the log. Realizing the saw was extremely dull, the man said, “If you would sharpen the saw, you could cut down the tree a lot faster.” The farmer responded, “I don’t have time.” It is amazing what we can learn if we will respond with a teachable heart. God offers wisdom to the person who fears the Lord. Proverbs 22:4 says, “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.”
Psalm 86:11
says, “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I
will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your
name.” Take a few moments to reflect on this theme as you read the words of
a song written from Psalm 86 by Joel Engle.
Teach me Your
way, oh Lord,
And I will walk in Your Truth.
Give me and undivided heart,
That I may fear Your
name.
Teach me Your way, oh
Lord,
And I will walk in Your Truth.
Give me and undivided heart,
That I may fear Your
name.
I will praise You, oh
Lord, with all of my heart;
I will glorify Your
name forever,
For great is your love for me.
Great
is Your Love for
me.
Great
is Your Love for
me. (Joel Engle)