Job 32
PRIDE OR HUMILITY?

At the end of the story of Job, Elihu is the only person Job is not told to pray for. He is also the only person whose speech wasn’t replied to. Elihu was the youngest of the people that argued with Job, but he was also the most self-righteous, self-confident, self-centred and full of pride. In the first 48 verses of his speech, he uses the words I, Me, or My more than 43 times (and that doesn’t include the times he quotes Job’s words when Job speaks about himself). He also contrasts his I, My, and Me statements with You, setting himself up to be a cut above Job and his friends as he speaks. His speech exalts himself and puts others down.

Lifting ourselves up at the expense of others is a natural tendency, not only for youth like Elihu, but for all of us. But God is not pleased with pride. In the end, people with pride will be brought low. God has said that he will exalt those who are humble.  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5 v 6).

Let’s take note of our conversations today. How many times do we use the words I, Me and My? Are we lifting ourselves up or are we waiting for God to lift us up?

May our conversation be a blessing to others this week.

With love in our Lord,
Robert

  Robert Prins
  http://www.thinkythings.com