Edition 45 of my Pride study

Saturday, October 15th

Edition 45 of my Pride study (5 more to go)

1 Corinthians 4:1-7
1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

So, I think verse three really hits home. How big a people pleaser am I? Do I care if others think I am right? Well, yes, I do. It is not my place to judge. I live in a society where the news is always a big thing. Did you hear about this or that, people will ask. Gossip with the third degree.

Proverbs 20:19
19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

Proverbs 11:13
13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Proverbs 16:28
28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 18:8 (also 26:22)
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Proverbs 26:20
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

And finally, Proverbs 10:19
19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

I struggle with this. I thought I was being wise by chasing after atheists, but I see that all that I am doing is bringing about judgment in my heart against them, quarrelling about with them, and slandering them and letting them slander my belief. It re-instills their belief’s as it does mine, but at the same time, I am developing an anger that shouldn’t be. With this in mind, I feel that I shall stop acting in this way, repent of my unrighteous anger and move on with my life. I have no right to judge the unrighteous. That is my Gods place to do such, and if I were to judge others, I then would be condemning myself.