Edition 48 of my Pride study

Wednesday, October 19th

Edition 48 of my Pride study

2 Corinthians 8:16-24
16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

Last night, my wife showed me her love. Not that she had to prove it, I know she loves me. But last night was a scary night for me. Normally when you put your hand to your chest you can feel your heart beat. Last night, I could not. My heart rate slipped down to about 60 beats per minute. In retrospect, I guess there wasn’t anything to worry about, seeing as to how the normal range for an adult is 60-100 beats per minute, but I couldn’t always feel the ker-thump in my chest, so this was new ground for me. My wife showed her proof of love for me and I take pride in her. She is an inspiration to me.

Proof (noun):

1. The evidence or argument that compels the mind to accept an assertion as true.

Initiative (noun):

1. The power or ability to begin or to follow through energetically with a plan or task; enterprise and determination.


2. A beginning or introductory step; an opening move.

Verse 21 really stood out to me. Doing right in Gods eyes is good. But also doing right in the eyes of man?

Hypocrisy (noun):

1. The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.


2. An act or instance of such falseness.


3. An expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction.


4. Insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have.

I have to ask myself, what does man see? I shouldn’t live to please man, but yet I shouldn’t tell them I am some great righteous Christian as I spit a cuss word every other sentence either. If my walk as a Christian is like a light held under a lamp, no one can see it and it does no one any good, including myself, because I would be walking as a hypocrite. But if I have the right doctrine and the right life, then not only do I save myself, but those who see my life, those I interact with.

1st Timothy 4:16
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.