Insightful Musings on the Scripturesby
Ray Sparre, NU class of '67
Ray has a wealth of experience as a Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, and student of the Word. He believes and practices his faith where the rubber meets the road. You'll find his writings to be practical, insightful, and grounded in a truly Christ-centered world view.
Below are links to a printable daily Bible reading guide which Ray has followed, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010 and 2011.
| Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
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11 Mar 11
Greetings, fine friends on this fine Friday.
Did you hear about the feather-brained fellow who forced his fond father to fork over the final farthing and flew forthwith into foreign fields, feasting fabulously with faithless friends? Whatever.
Need to get ready for a conference with our insurance provider in Portland. Then it’s off to the treadmill races.
Blessings. Love, Dad/Ray
11 March 2011
Proverbs 11
Focus: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2.
“It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am!” You’ve probably heard that before. It’s normally spoken with “tongue in cheek,” but we have to wonder sometimes if the tongue is not really in the cheek.
Both PRIDE and HUMILITY have positive and negative poles. PRIDE, for example, that is on the negative side is an inaccurate inflated view of oneself. But PRIDE on the positive side takes a balanced and appropriate view of one’s person and achievements. (See Romans 11:13; 2 Corinthians 7:4; Galatians 6:4; James 1:9-10.) In fact, we can say a measure of the proper PRIDE is essential to a healthy sound mindedness.
HUMILITY, in proper form, is just that—a balanced and accurate view of oneself—self-recognition and self-affirmation. That’s the positive side. It is not self-depreciation or self-degradation. That’s the negative side. And I suppose we will never cease in our struggle to achieve balance. I guess it’s just like walking, riding a bike, skiing, or doing anything else that requires balance—it’s a constant ongoing “juggling act.”
Paul’s words in Romans 12:3: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
The word SOBER stands out to me here. Can we say that the negative poles of both PRIDE and HUMILTY are forms of INTOXICATION?—making one “out of their mind” and FOOLISH. Being SOBER, on the other hand, gives way to the positive—which is WISDOM.
You’ve seen road signs that say DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. Perhaps we could modify the message and say DON’T EXPECT SUCCESS IN LIFE WHILE BEING INTOXICATED WITH YOURSELF.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” - Proverbs 16:18