What Humility is NOT.
I’d just written last week’s blog, and put it to bed, when I
read the following verse in my morning devotions:
read the following verse in my morning devotions:
Proud, Haughty,
Scoffer are his names, who acts with insolent pride (Proverbs 21:24, NASB). Another translation renders it this way: Show me a
conceited person, and I will show you someone who is arrogant, proud, and
inconsiderate (GNT).
Scoffer are his names, who acts with insolent pride (Proverbs 21:24, NASB). Another translation renders it this way: Show me a
conceited person, and I will show you someone who is arrogant, proud, and
inconsiderate (GNT).
That’s a heap of noun-verbiage. Each word critical to describing what won’t
help us get through the door to experience the adventure in Wonderland. That made each word worth examination.
help us get through the door to experience the adventure in Wonderland. That made each word worth examination.
In Larry Crabb’s book, Sixty-six
Love Letters, God says this about the book of Proverbs: “As you
read Proverbs, expect to feel the shame of exposure. Many of your ways are foolish. Expect, too, to feel the appeal of wisdom. God has given us a heart that wants to walk the
narrow road.”
Love Letters, God says this about the book of Proverbs: “As you
read Proverbs, expect to feel the shame of exposure. Many of your ways are foolish. Expect, too, to feel the appeal of wisdom. God has given us a heart that wants to walk the
narrow road.”
Sometimes, I fear my foolishness is completely bound and
tangled up within my heart, especially when I read verses such as the above.
tangled up within my heart, especially when I read verses such as the above.
Here are some of the characteristics synonymous with a
not-so-humble human (from Word Study Dictionary
of the Old Testament, Spiros Zhodiates): self-sufficient, impudent, one who
“seethes,” boils over, acts proudly.
Just as water in a pot boils over, so the presumptuous, arrogant, person
oversteps his boundaries. An over-bearing,
know-it-all, argumentative and contentious.
Self-sufficient. A scoffer: one
who makes a mouth at, is quick to interpret, to intercede, to mock, imitate,
express utter contempt toward, to boast…
not-so-humble human (from Word Study Dictionary
of the Old Testament, Spiros Zhodiates): self-sufficient, impudent, one who
“seethes,” boils over, acts proudly.
Just as water in a pot boils over, so the presumptuous, arrogant, person
oversteps his boundaries. An over-bearing,
know-it-all, argumentative and contentious.
Self-sufficient. A scoffer: one
who makes a mouth at, is quick to interpret, to intercede, to mock, imitate,
express utter contempt toward, to boast…
This is not a pretty picture. This kind of charisma won’t keep God huge and
me small enough to enter the door to Wonderland…
me small enough to enter the door to Wonderland…
When last week’s blog ended, I wrote these words: But, while I desire to drink humility,
it can be so hard to swallow… I want to take those words back. When I look at the alternative, I’m much more
eager to drink the liquid on the table that will get me through that little door!
it can be so hard to swallow… I want to take those words back. When I look at the alternative, I’m much more
eager to drink the liquid on the table that will get me through that little door!