Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

After I send this, I want to go out to the skid steer and remove the battery. It needs a replacement. If the decent battery I have on hand doesn’t fit, I guess I’ll need to buy another. Then I plan to make a run into Portland to purchase some sign supplies. Becki is presently away to her Bible Study with a group of seniors in Woodburn.

There are a lot of mourning Seahawks fans out there right now. They had a win in the bag, but blundered bad in the last few seconds—costing their second Super Bowl title. I’m exercising some allegory below, and I can see where even this football game could accommodate some allegorical application as well. Whereas it’s not good enough to almost win a game, it’s also not good enough to almost be saved—to almost win the title of ETERNAL LIFE. “Remember Lot’s wife.”

Have a blessed day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

This is indeed a heavy chapter—one that all of us should read and heed. Among other things, it presents a perspective of the “gentle loving Jesus” that many seem to ignore. Man—He can speak very rough and tough. In processing the central theme, may I engage in a bit of my own allegory? (Pause) I didn’t hear your response, so I’ll just proceed.

Mr. Pride is an unyielding enemy to the Kingdom of God, though he would never admit it. He is a very stubborn resident of the human heart. Even if he is evicted for a time, he will never rest in his quest to regain occupancy. This Mr. Pride particularly desires to have his residence high on the Hill of Renown. He is not as concerned with the dwellings of the masses in the valley. Nevertheless he is virtually omnipresent with the masses and will reside anywhere he is allowed to remain. He is a most clever con-artist who never operates under his own name. He has been known to dupe even the most intelligent. He is never content to live alone and will always call on his special friends, Hypocrisy and Greed, to join him. He also enjoys hanging out with Legalism.

Concerning these “teachers of the law and Pharisees,” Jesus clearly identifies in them the residency of Mr. Pride whom they have unwittingly accommodated. He declared that such accommodation not only disqualifies them from proper leadership, but also bars them from the very Kingdom of God that they claim to represent. That should stand as a very noteworthy warning for all of us, taking particular note of the fact that we are individually responsible for Pride’s removal and control. Listen again to verse 12: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

One more thought: Humility is not the best manager of Pride. Wisdom is. For she is the parent and guardian of Humility. Pride is just plain foolish and earns God’s revulsion and repulsion. Wisdom teaches humility and wins God’s delight. “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom…She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed” (Prov. 3:13-18).