You just do not understand what I am going through!!!

You know when you encounter someone that is doing something that seems odd, or doing something that you may not agree with. Many times people will say, “You do not know what that person is going through.” Well this morning I was just thinking how often we need to remember just the opposite. People do not know what you are going through and they haven’t walked in your shoes, so why would they understand you or your position unless you explain it to them.

Many times, when I make a decision and people do not understand it, I have gotten upset. I think I should not have to explain myself.  While that is valid many times, I think communication would effectively relieve many of these issues.

Here we see a proverb that really speaks to the issue:

Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV) When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

I know, none of us have pride lol. Just for the sake of this study, we will amuse the thought that everyone has a bit of pride in them.

The word pride here means “to boil up.” 

It refers to raging arrogance and insolence. Or in my words:  over confident, self-important and rude.

I have been guilty of these and there is no shame in it. We are all human.

What I want to really focus on is not being like this ever again! Like many proverbs the solution is in the same verse. “But with the humble is wisdom.”

Now we can know the scriptures inside and out but true wisdom is not just the knowledge but the actual practice of the knowledge that you have.  In other words, being doers of the word -not just hearers.

So that takes me to the next word….HUMILITY!!!

This word shows up one other time in the Hebrew concordance :

Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

It means to act submissively or modest.

Humility is often seen as weakness, and few of us know much about it or pursue it. For the good of our souls, we need to gain a clearer understanding of pride and humility and of how to forsake the one and embrace the other.

A good story to read is 2 Chronicles 26. King Uzziah depended on the Lord; after his fame spread throughout the land he became dependent on himself. History shows at every point how easy it is for pride to increase as we become stronger, more successful, more prosperous, and more recognized in our endeavors. In fact, anything, real or imagined, that elevates us above others can be a platform for pride. Ironically, this is true even when these things come as a result of God’s blessings.

Romans 12:3 (NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Walking with the Lord always leads us to success and blessing. If we do not keep our attitudes and thoughts in line with the word we can easily take credit for our success. Thinking that we have done this or that but in reality we would not have done no such thing without the blessings of God upon our lives. We need to remember who we were without Him and give credit where credit is due.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

Jesus was talking to the disciples and He mentioned Satan getting cast out of heaven. At first, I did not read this scripture and think it was about pride but when you read it in context you can see why Jesus warned His disciples. The disciples, just like us, have authority over demons. This could ultimately leave us with a swollen heads, if we do not remember who gave us this authority and why He gave it to us we can become powerful in our own minds. We need to keep our perspectives in line with the Word. Jesus said not to rejoice in this…this is true humility.

Luke 10:17 Then the seventy[e] returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Just like power can throw us off track, so can knowledge….

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

This scripture was for the Christians that used the scriptures to make other Christians, for lack of words, feel stupid. Some believers in the bible did not think it was proper to eat certain foods. However, others thought the idea was stupid and used scriptures to back them up. We are all called to walk in our own convictions. Things that I maybe sin for me may not be sin for you. We need to stay true to our OWN convictions; we need to keep our conscious clear. Do not flaunt your enlightened point of view! We are not to belittle weaker Christians with our knowledge making ourselves feel more superior. Instead of puffing up with knowledge and telling people they do not have to do this or that. Love them! Help them! Support them!!! Do not use the scriptures against them!!! This is humility.

We need to remember that His strength is perfected in our weakness!!!

Lastly, I want to remind you that Lucifer, the devil, was cast out of heaven because of pride. This should really shake us. He was blessed, and possibly the most beautiful, powerful, and intelligent of all the angels in Heaven. He let these facts change him. He forgot his purpose and place.

I found this in the Forerunner commentary:

Jude 1:6   (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)

Jude puts this in an interesting way. They were not "the bad angels," or even "the angels who sinned." He calls them "the angels who were not content with where God had placed them."

We know from Revelation 12:4 that one-third of the angels were under Lucifer's, or Hillel's, hand, and he convinced them to leave their proper domain—the place where they had dominion, the place of their responsibility and authority—so that they could get more for themselves. In doing this, they sinned. Their discontent caused them to attempt to take by force what had not been given, but which they thought they deserved. This is the same thing that happened in Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16:1-35).

Side note: Many times people think they can do things better than others, they know it all, or they are just plan critical....this is a sign of pride...