Don't Compare

Reading for Today: 2 CORINTHIANS 10:1

Gold Nugget
2 CORINTHIANS 10:12: Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!

Commentary

How many times have you logged into your social media account and felt like a total failure after seeing everyone else’s lives? If you’re like me, it’s quite often. You see your friends who always look amazing in every picture they take. Perhaps you see friends that go on awesome vacations or get to do cool things like zip lining in the rainforest when you’re stuck at home all summer. It’s really easy to start comparing your life to the lives of others and start to feel like a total loser.

That’s a little like what today’s Bible verse is talking about. It tells us that when we begin to classify or compare ourselves we are not wise. It isn’t wise to begin comparing yourself, your gifts, talents, and your life with others. The main reason this is true is that you don’t see yourself fully. Often, we miss our own gifts because we’re so used to them.

The Call to Wisdom

Reading for Today: Proverb Chapter 1

Gold Nugget 

Verse 20-24: 20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. 21 She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: 22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

Commentary

Today's proverb issues a very powerful warning. Trying to find a small "gold nugget" was quite the challenge. It flows for quite some time with a warning about neglecting wisdom. The scripture describes wisdom as a women who cries in the streets, "How long will you remain in simplicity and reject sound wisdom? This passage about this "woman" was written thousands of years ago, but she is still out there. Lifting up her voice to the simple that are being led and lured into the pits of hell. Wisdom has continued to call out to those who will not accept her pleas for their own safety. She knows that they will not listen, but still she calls. 


Whether you are subscribed to this devotion for wisdom, whether you read Proverbs for wisdom of any sort or if you read the Word in general for wisdom, she is crying out to you to listen and receive her instructions. This proverb describes wisdom as something that is readily available, but seldom embraced. Wisdom is still readily available. It is in front of you on the pages of His Word. There she sits on your table, desk or dashboard - calling out to you as you are led and lured down the path of destruction. Awaken! Hear the voice of wisdom as she cries out to you. Run to her and embrace her. Hold her tight and never let her go. She will rescue you and preserve you from the path that leads to destruction. 

Prayer

Lord, I want to respond to your call to wisdom and embrace her with the passion of a newlywed. I want to cling to your words and hunger for your knowledge. Help me to separate myself from the wicked and foolish. Thank you for rescuing me from the path to destruction and securing me with your instructions. Amen

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