Daily Prayer
The Word:
Proverbs 25:6-7 (HCSB) 6 Don’t brag about yourself before the king, and don’t stand in the place of the great; 7 for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here!” than to demote you in plain view of a noble.
My observation:
The word of wisdom that I get from this Proverb is that it is not wise to engage in self-promotion. Anything that you gain from the elevation of self results only in a temporary promotion. There is the threat that what appears to be a gain will soon show up as a loss. Self-promotion yields ill gotten gain that runs the risk of becoming a swift demotion.
During his earthly ministry Jesus used parables to teach important lessons. The following passage is what he taught about the virtue of humility, and the folly of self-promotion.
Luke 14:7-11 (HCSB) 7 He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. 9 The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. 10 “But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Let that last verse in the above passage speak into your heart, and allow it to control your behavior. Instead of self-promotion, choose the path of self-control.
Romans 12:3 (HCSB) For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
The wise person will think sensible, this will eliminate being sorrowful for the consequences of self-promotion.
My inspiration:
Psalm 25:9 (HCSB) He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for parable that Jesus told about humility. Father, I pray that we will learn and apply this teaching.
Father God, I also praise and thank you for the example that Jesus left for us in how he demonstrated the virtue and reward of humility during his earthly ministry.
Philippians 2:8-11 (HCSB) 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
My song:
Jesus Lifted Me - In Loving-Kindness Jesus Came (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):