September 8 - Pride and Wisdom 교만과 지혜

September 8 - Pride and Wisdom

 

“Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” -Proverbs 13:10

 

 

This chapter of Proverbs continues Solomon's wise sayings. He counsels his readers to be sensible, hardworking, and honest. This allows people to be content with what they have, enjoy life, and bless their descendants. Laziness leads to trouble and ruin, as does a lack of discipline. Proverbs 13:4–11 observes key differences between the rich and poor, the testimony of the righteous and the dismal end of the wicked, the wicked's audacity, and the wise's willingness to accept advice. 

 
The word translated as "pride" comes from a Hebrew verb meaning "to boil." This suggests a kind of inward, bubbling pride that refuses to learn anything from anybody (Proverbs 1:22; 12:15; 13:1). An insolent person is a contentious, know-it-all, and egotistical individual with a superior attitude. He is quick to quarrel and unwilling to agree with anyone with a different view. Such persons create much drama but accomplish little else (Titus 3:9–11).The philosophers at Mars Hill who rejected the apostle Paul's message about Jesus were insolent. They called Paul a babbler (Acts 17:18). Some of those who heard Paul preach about the resurrection made fun of him (Acts 17:32). Paul advised young Timothy to receive advice. He writes in 2 Timothy 1:13: "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." He also offered good counsel in Romans 12:16: "Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your sight."

 

Our internal conflicts and battles are caused by sinful and lustful human desire. Those conflicts and battles naturally manifest themselves as outer conflict and quarrels. James asked, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:1). These battling desires prohibit us from producing fruits. Because they are like ‘worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth of thorns’ in Luke 8:14: “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature” (Luke 8:14). Paul also said that all kinds of passions and pleasures enslaved us before we knew Christ (Titus 3:3). 

 

People far from God cannot attain true satisfaction in this world. James said, “You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want” (James 4:2). People steal, conspire, and kill to obtain what they want. Sin deceitfully makes a great promise but cannot truly give us anything in return. The pleasure of sin is only temporary. But true and constant satisfaction is never attained through lust, jealousy, and envy. This only results in conflict, contradiction, battles, and quarrels.

 

Quarrels and conflicts also happen in the church. Christians afflict themselves with their lustful human nature. Pride causes conflict and quarreling in the church. The early churches experienced many quarrels and disagreements because of their pride (Philippians 4:2). Pride causes us to be lustful, jealous, quarreling, controversial, and even murderous (Proverbs 13:10). Pride comes from a human-driven life, but humility comes from a God-driven life.  

 

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Today’s Prayer: Pray for God’s blessing on all relief agencies that help people exercise appropriate dominion (Genesis 1:28-30). Ask God to enable you to see and respond to the needs of these aid-givers. 

Prayer Pointer: I have found that the more I do in secret prayer, the more I am delighted to do, and the more I have enjoyed the spirit of prayer. – David Brainerd

Bible Reading: Proverbs 13-14; 1 Corinthians 16

 

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9월 8일 - 교만과 지혜

 

“교만에서는 다툼만 일어날 뿐이라 권면을 듣는 자는 지혜가 있느니라 - 잠 13:10

 

  

잠언 13장에는 솔로몬의 지혜의 말씀이 계속 나오고 있습니다. 그는 잠언을 읽는 독자들에게 현명하고 근면하며 정직하라고 교훈합니다. 우리는 근면하고 정직하게 살아가며 현재의 소유로 만족하고 삶을 즐기며 자손을 축복해 주어야 합니다. 나태함은 연단의 부족에서 오며 문제와 파멸을 가져 옵니다. 잠언 13:4-11에는 부자와 가난한 자의 차이점, 의인의 증언과 악인의 비참한 최후, 그리고 악인의 무례함과 지혜로운 자의 조언을 수용하는 말씀이 있습니다.  

 

위의 구절의 "교만"은 문자적으로 "끓다"를 의미하는 히브리어 동사에서 유래한 단어로 배우기를 거부하는 일종의 내면에서 끓어 오르는 교만의 태도를 암시 합니다(잠 1:22; 12:15; 13:1). 교만한 사람은 우월의 태도로 모든 것을 안다고 하며 논쟁적이고 이기적인 사람입니다. 그는 다투기를 잘하고 입장이 다른 사람의 견해에 동의하지 않습니다. 이러한 사람들은 많은 것들을 시도하지만 결국 이루는 것이 거의 없습니다 (딛 3:9-11).

 

아레오바고에서 사도 바울이 전한 예수님의 부활의 메시지를 거부한 아덴의 철학자들은 교만한 자들이었습니다. 예수님의 부활의 설교를 들은 사람들은 바울을 말쟁이라고 하며(행 17:18) 조롱했습니다(행 17:32). 바울은 젊은 디모데에게 디모데후서 1장 13절에서 “너는 예수 그리스도 안에 있는 믿음과 사랑으로써 내게 들은 바 바른 말을 본받아 지키고"라고 서신을 보냈습니다. 그리고 바울은 로마서 12:16에서 "높은 데 마음을 두지 말고 도리어 낮은데 처하며 스스로 지혜있는 체 하지 말라”고 권면합니다.   

 

우리의 내적 갈등과 싸움은 우리의 죄악과 정욕에서 시작되어 자연스럽게 외부적인 갈등과 다툼의 형태로 나타납니다. 야고보는 “너희 중에 싸움이 어디로부터 다툼이 어디로부터 나느냐 너희 지체 중에서 싸운 정욕으로부터 나는 것이 아니냐” (약 4:1) 라고 묻습니다. 이러한 욕망의 싸움은 삶에서 결실을 맺지 못합니다. 그 이유는 이러한 것들은 누가복음 8장 14절에 나오는 이생의 염려와 가시나무들의 속임수와 같기 때문입니다. "가시떨기에 떨어졌다는 것은 말씀을 들은 자이나 지내는 중 이생의 염려와 재물과 향과 향락의 기운이 막혀 온전히 결실하지 못하는 자요”(눅 8:14). 바울은 또한 우리가 그리스도를 알기 전에 온갖 정욕과 행락에 종 노릇하던 자였다고 말합니다(딛 3:3).

 

하나님을 떠난 인간은 이 세상에서 참된 만족을 얻을 수 없습니다. 야고보는 "너희는 욕심을 내어도 얻지 못하여"(약 4:2) 라고 말합니다. 사람들은 원하는 것을 얻기 위해 도둑질하고, 공모하고, 살인까지 합니다. 죄는 큰 것으로 약속하며 기만하지만 그 댓가로 줄 것은 아무것도 없습니다. 죄의 즐거움은 일시적일 뿐입니다. 그러나 진실하고 지속적인 만족은 결코 정욕과 질투와 시기심을 통해서는 얻지 못하고 갈등, 모순, 싸움, 그리고 다툼을 초래할 뿐입니다.

 

다툼과 갈등은 교회안에서도 일어납니다. 그리스도인들도 자신들의 정욕적인 인간 본성 때문에 스스로 괴롭힘을 당하고 교만은 교회 안에서 갈등과 다툼을 일으킵니다. 초대 교회 성도들도 교만 문제 때문에 많은 다툼과 불화가 있었습니다(빌 4:2). 교만은 우리로 하여금 정욕적이고 질투하게 하고, 다투고, 논쟁하고, 심지어 살인하게 만듭니다(잠 13:10). 인간이 주장하는 삶에는 교만이 나타나지만 하나님이 주장하는 삶에는 겸손이 나타납니다.  

 

 

오늘의 기도: 합당하게 다스리는 사람들을 도웁는 모든 구제 선교기관들이 하나님의 축복을 받을 수 있도록 기도하고 (창 1:28-30), 당신이 이러한 구제하는 자들의 필요를 보고 응답할 수 있도록 하나님께 간구하십시오.  

기도 지침: 내가 은밀한 기도를 더 많이 하면 할수록 은밀히 기도하는 것이 더 큰 기쁨이 되었고 기도의 영을 더 즐거워하게 된 것이다. – 데이빗 브레이너드.   

성경 읽기:  잠언 13-14장; 고린도전서 16장