Example
“What you are doing speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you’re saying.” This is another way of saying “Actions speaks louder than words”. I think this is an axiom that is chocked full of truth.
Joash was 7 years old when he was made king of Judah. His son, Amaziah was only 25 years old when he became king. He did have a great example. Check this out….
1 In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. (2 Kings 13:1-3 NIV
A bit later on in this passage, we see the arrogance and pride of Amaziah as he decides to take on Israel. He gets defeated and captured. The proverb that says:
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 NIV)
I believe that pride and arrogance (aka “haughty spirit”) are the most destructive characteristics of our human existence. These are two of the most selfish & self-centered character traits and they are completely disruptive and destructive. They’ve destroyed many relationships along the way as one person starts thinking more highly of himself or herself than they ought. They then become “too good” for their family and friends and the destruction begins.
I believe that these two character traits have infiltrated Christ followers everywhere. When I first got to know the Lord, His saving me humbled me. I can begin to think that He shouldn’t save these other idiots. I’ve met people who are “so heavenly bound that they are no good for nothing here on earth”. That is not what the Lord had in mind when He brought salvation to our world. He taught by example to be compassionate to the poor and hurting. He taught me patience. He taught me to love profoundly. I would be very wise to follow Him example and realized when I see someone defeated, down and out, that “there but for the grace of God go I”.
Pressing On!
Dwayne