July 23 - Proverbs 30-31: Arrogance vs. Humility

On Tuesday, a friend texted my husband to share the news that he had prayed to receive Christ that morning. We are so excited as this is someone for whom we've been praying a long time. We could see how desperately he needed the Lord, although for much of the past year he's been exploring the eastern religions.

But it's been intriguing and refreshing at how open he's been to spiritual things and that he's not offended by our belief that Jesus is the only way to God. He and his wife (not a believer) have been active participants in our small group, and I have sensed that they truly want to nail down what they believe and why. (I think they're also a little baffled as to why their friends are so enamored with Jesus.) But a huge barrier has been the inordinate amount of confidence they place in their own intelligence and ability to reason things out. Up to this point, neither of them have been able to figure out Jesus.

It's with that backdrop that I read the conversation between the believer and the skeptic in Proverbs 30. I've had plenty of discussions with unbelievers over the years, and it's always interesting to see how sure they are of their opinions and their way of seeing the world, even when they don't stand up to scrutiny. That same confidence came through loud and clear in verses 1-4.

"In the skeptic, we see arrogance: "There is no God!" he states emphatically. And that arrogance leads to presumption: "I can do anything I want!" (30:1)  Arrogance closes our mind to anything outside of our own self-interest and the fulfillment of our most selfish instincts.

In the believer, on the other hand, we see humility. And that humility leads not to presumption but to prayer. Even the prayer itself is humble. He asks only two things: to speak truthfully and live dependently.

An absence of God in a person's life leads to skepticism, arrogance, and presumption. An awareness of God leads to faith, humility, and dependence." Eugene Peterson, Conversations, pg. 985

Lord, I know that I, too, can be arrogant and presumptuous even though I know You. Father, forgive me, and allow me to see my sin more clearly. I pray that my awareness of all You are in my life leads me to greater humility and dependence on You. If I boast at all, may I boast only in You.

Thank You for drawing our friend to Yourself, for rescuing him from the kingdom of darkness. I know that the angels are rejoicing over this one redeemed soul. I pray that his wife will see Your power and Your love reflected in her husband's life and that she will come to know You as well.