Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit
before a fall.”
Pride is an awful thing. It can destroy families, friends,
marriages, and all sorts of relationships. Most times all involved are guilty.
No one is totally innocent.
But what about when it comes to God's people?
What about when two individuals or two groups who disagree
on doctrine? Even when we are undoubtedly in the right our pride can take over
and put us in the wrong. Are we humble enough to let a brother or sister know
what God says in His Word without bragging of the knowledge He has given us?
The same knowledge they may not have obtained yet?
Now, don't misunderstand here. There are times when,
according to God's Word we must not fellowship with some. There will be those
false teachers and false prophets that come along that we should flee. Those
preaching the doctrines of devils and preaching another gospel. But then there
are those, who like us, are willing to humble themselves and seek the Lord's
guidance in our disagreements. When both parties can throw their pride out the
window and set and peaceably talk about their differences and come away in
peace. Even if the matter is unresolved. Or if we can throw our differences
aside and enjoy sweet fellowship with the things we do agree upon.
Pride has split many a church and caused many a church to
not fellowship with other churches. Pastors and members fail to fellowship
because of pride from one or all involved. Pastors refuse fellowship from other
pastors because they so pridefully think they are more holy than another or
that they have more knowledge than others. We must remember who that holiness
and that knowledge came from. Maybe the Lord will use you to teach that one a
great blessing and at the same time increasing their knowledge of God's Word.
John tells us in 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world.” It is true, we must choose our
fellowship wisely. Sometimes there will be just too many differences. Sometimes
it may even be someone we are closest to that we must flee. And then there
comes that time when the one we least expect is the one we can have the
sweetest of all fellowships.
We must be careful not to make our circle of fellowship so
close that we cut off our own toes.
Praise the Lord when He sends those you can fellowship with.
But also praise Him when He shows you those to stay away from. Try the spirits.
If they are to far removed from the truth then flee. But if they be of a
kindred spirit then cherish the fellowship and praise the Lord for it.
O child of God, do not let pride run your life. Do not let
pride rule your life. Do not let pride ruin your life. If you are struggling
with pride toward a brother or sister in Christ, humbly submit to the Lord and
forgive whatever wrong you think has been done. Follow our Lord's example and
show mercy and grace to those whom we should be having sweet fellowship with.
As our text verse says “Pride goeth before destruction”.
Before your pride brings you to ruin, beg our Lord for forgiveness. Beg Him to
remove this most hideous sin from you. Ask our Lord to show you how to approach
the one you have been prideful against and go to them asking forgiveness. It
would do us all some good to humble ourselves before our Lord and our brethren
when we have so foolishly let our pride show it's ugly face.
Praise ye the Lord!!!
By Stephen McCool Sr.
No comments:
Post a Comment