but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Devotion
So far, we have looked at acknowledging the reality of pride, the source of pride and the consequences of pride. Today we will look at the by-product of pride. In Proverbs 13:10, we discover that “pride only breeds quarrels or strife.” How does the sin of pride impact our environment? Yesterday we discovered the consequences to those who harbor sinful pride in their hearts. Today we will look at the impact of sinful pride in our community, nation and world.
The word “strife” means angry, bitter, conflict, friction, discord, dissension, controversy, contention, disharmony, hostility, animosity. Let me ask you this, “Do these words look familiar in our country today?” Today we are witnessing an outcry over an injustice that has gone on for way too long. People are upset and angry over what happened to George Floyd. This was not an isolated event but another in the long line of abuses experienced by people of color. Once again, it is important to note that this did not happen in a vacuum.
Racism has been around since the beginning of time. We can trace it all the way back to the book of Genesis. Pride is the root evil behind racism. When sinful pride is left unchecked, strife or contention is sure to follow. This is very understandable. What happens to you when over a long period of time you felt like you have not been heard and you have been minimized? Eventually your anger and frustration will surface. You see, pride breeds strife!
Sometimes those of us in the white community do not understand it when we see people of color protesting in the streets. We do not understand their pain because we have not walked in their shoes. Rather than seek to understand, we get defensive and justify our position. This does not help to solve the problem. Instead we should seek to understand and not be understood. We need to listen with empathy and ask God what He would have us do. This strife will not end in our country until we acknowledge the sinful pride that gives birth to racism and repent of it. Once we repent, we must act! We can no longer be silent but must become advocates for justice. We must do what we can to lift the bonds of oppression and identify with those that have been marginalized. Only then will this strife cease.
Questions to Ponder:
Do you get defensive when the topic of racism is brought up? Are you uncomfortable with the image of peaceful protestors in our city streets? Are you able to relate to the anger and frustration of people of color over the injustice of racism? What do you believe must happen in order for there to be peace in our nation?
Prayer Points
- Ask God to work in your heart and in the heart of His Church across America to be humble and contrite before Him and those hurting. Pray for LASTING change in each of our hearts!
- Ask the LORD to drive out the spirit of defensiveness in your heart and those in His Church.
- Ask God to pour out a spirit of brokenness upon all people and a spirit of supplication that will lead us all back to Him and Him alone. Pray for thy kingdom come, thy will be done.
- Ask the LORD to remind you that peace comes from Him, He is the Prince of Peace. Things may get worse, they may get better – but one thing is for sure, our confidence is not in our situation but in HIM ALONE.
Suggested Prayer
God, thank You for being a God of justice. You are faithful to the end. You are holy and unmatched. I praise You for how You intercede on behalf of Your people. Open my eyes to the ways that I have played a role in oppressing or hurting others. Forgive me. I ask that You come and reveal the pride that I have in my heart. Lead me past guilt over my sin and to true repentance. Help me to never be the same because my eyes have been opened to the sin in my life! I want to bring You glory. I want to bring You honor. Help me to move past my sin and walk in complete dependence on Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be a man or woman of peace who helps to build bridges between different people, races and cultures that can bear the weight of the gospel. Thank You for how You lead. Thank You for how You love. Help me to be someone who walks with you and truly loves the people around me with the love You first showed me. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.