Thursday, September 8th

Thursday, September 8th

Psalm 62:10
10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
Ecclesiastes 7:5-10
5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. 6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless. 7 Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. 8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. 9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. 10 Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Extortion (noun):

1. The act or an instance of extorting.


2. Illegal use of one's official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage.


3. An excessive or exorbitant charge.


4. Something extorted.

Extort (verb):

1. To obtain from another by coercion or intimidation.

Coerce (verb):

1. To force to act or think in a certain way by use of pressure, threats, or intimidation; compel.


2. To dominate, restrain, or control forcibly.


3. To bring about by force or threat.

Intimidate (verb):

1. To make timid; fill with fear.


2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats.

Meaningless (adj.):

1. Having no meaning or significance.

Patient (adj.):

1. Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness.


2. Marked by or exhibiting calm endurance of pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance.


3. Tolerant; understanding.


4. Persevering; constant.


5. Capable of calmly awaiting an outcome or result; not hasty or impulsive.


6. Capable of bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance.

I know these are a lot of definitions, but I think it brings to light what pride is all about. Pride is about the right now. It is about “me.” Extortion is pride, because extortion is about “obtaining property, funds, or patronage.” In the end, it has no meaning in heaven, no significance. I was thinking last night as I was trying to drift off into sleep, how this pride study has affected my life. I thought, “Jesus was without sin. That means he was without pride. Pride is a number of things: Pride is not calling out sin when you see it. Pride is not getting help when you need it. Pride is not asking for prayers for myself or loved ones in a time of distress. Jesus was not prideful. I can think of times in the bible that Jesus was in all these situations and reacted humbly.” This series of thoughts raised my faith. I tried to share this with my wife, but she was exhausted and trying to sleep herself. It was like an awesome revelation for me, one that I have not experienced in a long time.

Also, I think that verse 10 of Ecclesiastes shows another side of pride that I had not thought of before. Not being grateful for the here and now, I think, is a form of pride. With the Portland story and the Boston Elders letter, I have become somewhat confused as to what to think about with the “old ways” vs. the “new ways.” I think something should be said about both, and that maybe a combination of both is probably the best route to take, but that is just me. It is not wise to say that the old way was better, but is it wrong to say that improvements can be made from what we are doing now? I don’t know. More study is needed for me to see just what the scriptures say in this matter. Very well, Johnny Out.