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The Pride Of Life



S.E.E.D. For Today_Pride Of Life

 Scripture "For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything thing we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions, these are not from the Father, but are from this world." I John 2:16 NLT

 The author explains why the love for the world is incompatible with love for God. He does this by showing those things which make up the world and defines them as antithetical (being in direct and unequivocal opposition) to God. To make his point the author gives a definition of everything in the world, which involves three elements, the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life or pride of possessions. Being puffed up in pride because of one's material possessions represents a conscious allusion to the temptation of Eve in the garden, the craving of the fruit for the flesh, the desire of the eyes stimulated her to covet what was forbidden, and the pride of life which would be the result from eating the fruit when she became like God. Not that the things in the world are not of God but the tendencies to have access to them puts us in opposition with God because we worship the creation rather than the Creator.

Example The tendency to give false value to the things of the world. Glorification of the self and a failure to realize the dependence of humanity upon God.

Exercise Read I John 2:15-17 It is dangerous and costly to make idols of our livelihood, social status, and any other status symbol that the world determines is important but that matters little to God. The value system of this world is turned on its head when God provides the evaluation. Pride, prestige and position count for nothing in the Kingdom of God. What are you chasing, the pride of life, prestige, position, possessions, where is your allegiance?

Devotion Lord I pray for your will to be done. I pray that the pride of life not consume my desires. I know that this does not come from you but from this world. Don't allow me to continue on in pride that stops me from seeking you. Your word says you hate pride and arrogance Prov. 8:13 help me have a healthy fear of You that destroys that pride and arrogance in Jesus Name Amen.

Comments

  1. MommyLuvApril 7, 2016 at 12:11 PM

    I chased all these things only to find myself depleted of real joy. Things are things and if we have an unhealthy attachment to the things of the world, we can not love God. Jesus was completely removed from the culture of things. Hence, we find ourselves decades later seeing the church involved in mass consumerism instead of living in modesty. We need help and a cultural shift in our value system. AMEN and thanks pastor for the food for thought

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