THE PROPER ATTITUDE OF A BELIEVER
Have you ever met a person who converted, changed, or was transformed by a concept such as a twelve step program whose attitude reflected pride and arrogance, rather than thankfulness and humility?
My work office was once placed near a former alcoholic who read his twelve step manual and attended church faithfully. And yet, the man’s sarcasm and holier-than-thou attitude toward all of life was a constant thorn in my side. As Elihu said to Job's four miserable comforters, “you talk and act as if all of you are ‘the ones’ that wisdom will die with,” (Job 12:2) I wanted to say this to my coworker.
Coming to know the Lord’s Word can do the same thing to young believers. Their zeal can get the better of them. Is it wrong to want to see others turn to Christ? Certainly not. Is it wrong to proclaim the greatness of our God?” No, not at all.
And yet, those around new students of the Bible can be made to feel like they are being attacked every day by an Amway rep who, in his own beguiling way, really only wants them to be on his team to stack his multi-level pyramid, nothing more.
When you are being taught and God’s Word becomes revelation to you, do not allow your heart to be lifted up. Allow the Lord to add temperance (self-restaint) to your words and deeds.
Some advice:
Always keep in mind from where it was the Lord delivered you (and is yet delivering you.) Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
Revelation 3:17
“…thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”
Remain contrite.
Psalm 40:17
“But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me…”
Be willing to admit it if you have taken advantage of others or treated them unkindly.
Proverbs 9:8
“…. rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee”
Understand that all men are prone to miss the mark, fall short, experience hard times.
Deuteronomy 24:18
“But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence…”
Have you ever met a person who converted, changed, or was transformed by a concept such as a twelve step program whose attitude reflected pride and arrogance, rather than thankfulness and humility?
My work office was once placed near a former alcoholic who read his twelve step manual and attended church faithfully. And yet, the man’s sarcasm and holier-than-thou attitude toward all of life was a constant thorn in my side. As Elihu said to Job's four miserable comforters, “you talk and act as if all of you are ‘the ones’ that wisdom will die with,” (Job 12:2) I wanted to say this to my coworker.
Coming to know the Lord’s Word can do the same thing to young believers. Their zeal can get the better of them. Is it wrong to want to see others turn to Christ? Certainly not. Is it wrong to proclaim the greatness of our God?” No, not at all.
And yet, those around new students of the Bible can be made to feel like they are being attacked every day by an Amway rep who, in his own beguiling way, really only wants them to be on his team to stack his multi-level pyramid, nothing more.
When you are being taught and God’s Word becomes revelation to you, do not allow your heart to be lifted up. Allow the Lord to add temperance (self-restaint) to your words and deeds.
Some advice:
Always keep in mind from where it was the Lord delivered you (and is yet delivering you.) Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
Revelation 3:17
“…thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”
Remain contrite.
Psalm 40:17
“But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me…”
Be willing to admit it if you have taken advantage of others or treated them unkindly.
Proverbs 9:8
“…. rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee”
Understand that all men are prone to miss the mark, fall short, experience hard times.
Deuteronomy 24:18
“But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence…”