12-15-2022

Good Morning All,

       Proverbs 16:18; “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

   There once was a small prairie pond which was the home to a frog and two geese.  As often happens, a drought hit the land and the pond began to dry up.  The geese were ready to leave but the frog asked them to stay because he was afraid.  They told him they would look for another pond but when they returned, they told him the next pond was over 20 miles away.  The frog fretted for he didn’t know what to do.  Each day the pond got smaller, and it would soon dry up.  As the geese were preparing to leave, the frog had an idea, an idea that would save him.  He told the geese to find a stick and each of them would hold an end in their mouth, he would bite the stick in the middle and hold on until they reached the next pond.  The geese found the perfect size stick and the frog closed his mouth around it and off they flew to the next pond.  As they soared higher and higher, the frog saw all the land and was impressed with his idea.  They flew over a farmer, who upon seeing this sight, scratched his head and asked,” I wonder who thought of that?”  To which the frog opened his mouth and replied,” I did” as he fell to the ground with a splat.

    Pride goes before destruction and usually with an open mouth as well.  I have been amused at the number of criminals who brag about their thievery on social media like Face Book.   Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.  We see it happen all the time.  Groups work well until someone compliments it and then the individuals want credit.

    The writer of this proverb (probably Solomon) knew full well the danger of a haughty spirit.  It is the kind of spirit that believes it knows better than God.  It can tell God how to deal with certain people, certain situations and solve all problems for God.  Then the shear folly of this falls full into his lap and he is left going splat.  The attempt to tell a joke at someone else’s expense while the other person is there.  Gossip spread that, while really juicy and easy to hear, is completely wrong and hurtful to another.  Bragging about our successes while others know the real events.  All these things make us look small to others but more importantly reflect poorly on how we see the gifts which God has given to us.

     We all love to take credit for good things, that really is human nature just like we like to be where the fun is and seen by many as fun and exciting.  But the devil like to take that and turn us away from God’s love to self-love where we see our self as the center of attention and the most important.  We fail to see that Christ is the center of it all.  The love which we receive from him and through him gives us the wisdom and knowledge and the blessings of this life.  All things we should be thankful for not bragging about.  Our boast should be for what Christ does for his people and how we are thankful to be one.

Dear Father, far too often we are busy boasting and not praising you, we are claiming our successes as our own and our failures are your will.  Forgive us that we are slow to give all honor and glory to your holy name.  Strengthen and preserve us as your people bringing us into a more perfect walk with you.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret