Knowing God - The Lord's Requirements

1 Tim 3:6

 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

The Lord Cares About His Servants

                                                                  

This is one of the things that the Lord tells us an elder/pastor should not be.  He is not to be new in the things of the Lord and in ministry.  The Lord warns that position without experience can cause pride.  He lets us know that pride can lift us up and makes us vulnerable for the devil to come in and start condemning us once we find out that position is difficult and filled with traps our adversary sets for us.  We learn from this verse that the Lord has qualifications for different things.  We learn that God knows what we can handle and what we can’t handle.  We have a God who has reasons for waiting to use us in certain ways.  What a wonderful God.  He doesn’t just care about the job getting done but He cares about those who are working for Him.  I am so glad that promotion comes from the Lord and when I am passed over for some sort of position I can trust that the Lord has my best interest in mind.

Proverbs - Lofty Eyes

Proverbs 30:13

There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

Lofty eyes are never good.  Lofty eyes exemplify eyes that look down on others.  Lofty eyes show pride and arrogance.  When a generation raises their eyebrows when their morality is challenged, we see a generation that does what is right in their own eyes.  Oh that we would show the world how humility produces honor and being corrected is a way of life!  Once again we are warned that the world around us really looks down on others although proclaiming tolerance.  Three are those who speak arrogantly against authority and are actually surprised when their actions are judge wrong or illegal.  We will see this more and more as we see the day approaching.  Our goal is to avoid this type of attitude and display a teachable spirit resulting in a much sweeter way of living.

Proverbs - Don't Accuse

Proverbs 30:10

Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

Our brothers and sisters in Christ are servants to the Lord Jesus Christ.  We ought not accuse them to their master.  They answer to the master and it is not our place to come before Him in prayer complaining about those He has around us.  Do you remember Martha and her attitude towards Mary?   She actually went to the Lord and told Him what to tell Mary to do.  Every servant answers to their own master.  When we bring servants before the Lord, let us not accuse them but rather praise the Lord for them.  Let us bring their needs and requests before the Lord.  Let us intercede for them, but let us never accuse them.

Proverbs - Honor to the Humble

Proverbs 29:23

A man's pride shall bring him low:

 but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Humility of spirit is an inner disposition rooted in a deep sense of how great God is and how dependent we are on His grace and power.  The spirit of a woman is to be meek and gentle.  This is of high value in God’s economy.  As women who are Jesus’ followers, we should be established in His grace and seeking to draw the resources we need to build our homes from Him.  He gives grace to the humble.  Grace can work through us and grace can establish us.  By approaching each day and situation with an open spirit to His wisdom and leading, we will find ourselves held in honor by those who surround us.  If we exalt ourselves we will find ourselves falling hard.  If we take the lower seat, ask questions rather than declare judgments and ponder His will rather than force ours upon others, we will be upheld in honor.