How to get along with others

“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”  Proverbs 13:10.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading; Proverbs 13-15, and Romans 11.

When there is strife, at least one of the participants has an overdose of pride.

Also, sadly, the know-it-all has stopped learning.

Been there and done both of them, way too many times!  How about you?

I assume that I deserve my way.  That I know best.  And then someone comes along who thinks otherwise.  Trouble comes in volumes thereafter.

Taking advice?  Not in my house!  Why are there so many domestic struggles?  Too many know-it-alls in households.  Too many folks willing to give advice and too many folks unwilling to accept it from others.

All this doom and gloom sits nicely on a life that is godless. But what about those of us who see ourselves as Godly?  We shouldn’t be on the wrong sides of today’s verse.  We shouldn’t be causing strife.  We should be willing to be advised.

Our sinful natures necessitate today’s verse.  The Godly are not immune to sin’s traps.  Solution?  Persistent relationship to God.  I cannot let Him out of my mind and heart.  I need Him.  I need direction from Him.  The evidences of His command of my life will be that I will get on the “right” side of today’s verse.

“Lord, forgive me for being a troublesome know-it-all.  I know better.  Fill me with You.  Take every inch of me over.  I want to reflect You everywhere.  I want to rightly represent You.  I cannot do it without Your Holy Spirit guiding me today.  I cling to You.  I love You, Lord.”

How are things going at home?  He can make them better.

Why is there so much fighting?

“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”  Proverbs 13:10.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: Proverbs 13-15, and Romans 11.

Why do I have trouble?  Because of I full of myself.

I want my way and you’re in my way.  We argue and don’t get along as we should.

My life must be filled with the Holy Spirit.  There must be no room available within me for me to be governing.

Alas, there often are areas that I try to run.  The areas I run are the ones where conflict is found.

Will I listen to others?  If I respect them, I will.  The ones who know me best have insights into what I should and should not be doing because of their years with me.  But do I want their counsel?  Do I want to change course?  Sometimes, but not always.

If I want to be wise, I will take advice from others.

The Bible is filled with advice.  In Proverbs, you get advice as well as insights into the consequences of not following the advice.

I often know exactly what God wants from me and I’m ready to do it.  However, when new assignments come along that I haven’t planned for, then there is a good chance that I will revert to my selfishness.

This is a constant thread in this blog: My life must be ENTIRELY surrendered to God.  Anything less leads to selfishness.

“Lord, I love You.  Forgive me for missing out on what You have for me to do because of my selfishness.  I want to please You.  I surrender (again) myself to You.  Take me over.  Direct my path.  Guide me, O thou great Jehovah.”

If I am filled with self, it is very difficult to get along with folks.

 

Pride

Calm morning today (May 30th) along the Merrimack River

“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Proverbs 13:10

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – Proverbs 13-15 & Romans 11)

Nothing good is going to come from pride.

And to add to that thought I find that directly from pride will come strife.

As I look at the difficulties I get into, the core of them is often my pride. I react quickly and unkindly to things. I’m sure I know more than the person on the other end of the interaction. And strife is sure to follow!

I am instructed in 1 Peter 3:17: “In the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” No room for pride in any of that. My pride will lead to my being inconsiderate and disrespectful.

Have I reached the point in life where I don’t need to get and consume advice? I hope not. So much of my life is being in new situations and trying new things. In my current part-time job (driving school instructor) things are constantly changing not only with the students I deal with but also the road conditions we drive through. There is much for me to learn, believe me.

“Lord, I thank You for the wisdom of Solomon. So much of it has never changed in being practical. Some of it is so obvious but so easily neglected. I can’t be consumed in self-confidence. I am weak. I need instruction. I, in fact, crave Godly instruction. Guide me, O thou great Jehovah.”