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“"Conceit Leaves Little Room for the Lord"”

Thoughts for Today:

One of my adult daughters is going through a particularly difficult time. She recently moved to Los Angeles, hit a pothole in the street and burst one of the tires on her car, had her car broken into (the rear window shattered), and to make matters even worse, her laptop was stolen. She called me in tears after each of these incidents (all occurring within forty eight hours). She wanted a little comfort, which based upon the limits of my ability, I tried to give her. But, what can you really say to your child who asks, "Dad, why do these things keep happening to me?" We can certainly be more careful and take greater precautions in our daily lives. Unfortunately, the true answer is: Sin first entered the world in the Garden of Eden and it has gone straight downhill for humanity since then -- from generation to successive generation. And it won't get better (at least for any significant period of time) until Jesus returns. It's just life. Sometimes bad things happen for no apparent reason. Of course, my daughter didn't want to hear those comments when she was crying hysterically. So I gave her the normal "Dad" platitudes.

In our passage today, Paul provides us with one more "true answer" to this age old question: God allows torment because it keeps us from becoming conceited. If we didn't have problems, tragedies, tribulations, sicknesses and the like, then humanity would not in earnest seek God. Why? Because many people would feel no need for Him to take an active or major role in their lives. We might be tempted to take credit for how well our lives were going by saying, "I'm doing great on my own, life is under control, and everything is working out just fine." And pride would be right there -- congratulating us on all the wonderful decisions we've made and the incredible victories we've achieved. All on our own. Conceit leaves little room for the Lord.

Questions to Ponder:

My daughter's challenges have created another opportunity for me to talk to her about her relationship with Jesus. Not that these things wouldn't have happened to her if she was going to church every week or spending more time studying the Word. In fact, just the opposite -- bad things will happen to even the best of Christians. The difference is God will provide us with "true" comfort when and if we seek Him. (Isaiah 30:18-19: "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you...How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.") Will you call for Him now regardless of whether or not you are in your own period of tribulation?

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.