Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2021
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Men will be lovers of themselves (2 Tim. 3: 2).
The world encourages people to have a very high opinion of themselves. An encyclopedia says that in the 1970s "self-help books became very common." Some "encouraged readers to know themselves, to accept themselves as they are, and to celebrate their identity." For example, one of these books tells the reader to make it a goal to fall in love with himself, as he is "the most beautiful, most valuable, most stimulating and attractive person who ever lived." This same work defends "the religion of the true being, in which the individual determines his own behavior based on his own conscience and on the laws of his environment that work for him." Does this idea sound familiar to us? Satan encouraged Eve to do something similar. He told her that she could “be like God, knowing good and bad” (Gen. 3: 5). Today, Many people have such a high opinion of themselves that they think that no one can tell them what is right and what is wrong, not even God. This attitude has greatly influenced, for example, what people think about marriage. w19.05 23 pars. 10, 11
How does Romans 12: 3 help us to have a balanced opinion of ourselves?
The Bible helps us to have a balanced opinion of ourselves. He says it's good to have a measure of self-love. For example, Jesus said, "You must love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 19:19). This shows that we must attend to our needs in a reasonable way. But the Bible does not teach that we should think that we are more important than others. On the contrary, he advises us not to do anything "out of a spirit of contradiction or egotism," but rather to consider "with humility of mind that others are superior" (Phil. 2: 3; read Romans 12: 3).
Why do you think what the Bible says about pride is helpful?
Many people this world considers wise scoff at what the Bible says about pride. They claim that thinking that others are superior will make us vulnerable and that people will take advantage of us. But in reality, what has been the result of the selfish attitude that Satan's world fosters? Are selfish people happy? Do they have happy families? Do you have real friends? Do they have a close friendship with God? What would you say produces better results: the wisdom of the world, or the wisdom of God's Word?
What are we very grateful for, and why?
Those who follow the advice of the "wise" of this world are like a tourist who asks another tourist who is as lost as he is how to get to a place. Regarding the “wise men” of his day, Jesus said: “Blind guides is what they are. Therefore, if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit ”(Matt. 15:14). Without a doubt, the wisdom of the world is foolish to God.
The wise counsel of the Bible has always been useful “to teach, to reprove, to rectify things, to discipline in justice” (2 Tim. 3:16). We are very grateful that Jehovah protects us from the wisdom of the world through his organization. --Eph. 4:14. Thanks to the spiritual food that he gives us, we have the necessary strength to obey his rules. What a great honor it is to have the infallible guidance of the wisdom of God's Word.
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