I was reading over my message, and I realized I didn't write a major point to my thoughts on this topic. If you forgot or didn't read my previous message, I would ask that you scroll to the bottom and read it, or else you may be completely lost with this. I had compared a proud person to a tree at the top of a mountain. The tree at the top of a mountain doesn't receive the water it needs to live; the water just washes over the tree/roots and then runs down the mountain. It doesn't stay to sustain the tree. Likewise, when somebody corrects a person, a proud person will never accept the correction- it will just 'wash' off the person and run down to nowhere-land. They will stay the same and never grow. A humble person is likened to a tree in the valley: a humble person will accept the correction. They will at least listen to what is said and think about it; correction will not wash off a person w/ humility. Again, it goes back to arrogance and open-mindedness. The proud person will be arrogant and think, "I don't need any correction! I do it all the best way, so there is no reason for anyone to correct me!" or they will think, "How dare they correct me! I know everything!" A humble person, on the other hand, will thank the person that gave the correction, think about what is said and figure out if it really is good or not. In short, they're open-minded. And to save the best for last, the most important reason why we should not be proud: If you are proud, you are relying on your own strength. Your sense of self-sufficiency, your self-centeredness and your intellectual pride will prevent God from coming into your life. SINCE YOUR MIND AND HEART ARE ALREADY FULL GOD CANNOT FILL THEM AGAIN. It is very simple to understand. This paragraph inspired me when I was discouraged. If you're discouraged, it means that you are proud. If you're proud... well, go back to the top of this paragraph and read it again. It's easy to understand. I got this paragraph from a friend of mine. I didn't think this part up, so I can't take credit for the best part of my message. :-) With that I shall close my writing on this topic. I hope I have not put the reader to sleep. Thank you for your patience, and thank you for reading! In Christ, Christine Philadelphia, PA USA |---------------Original Message---------------| I was just driving into work this morning and a couple thoughts came to mind that I thought I should share here. As always, my emails get long, but I try to summarize it in a couple words at the very end (Fortune cookie-esque). If you don't want to read the whole thing, scroll to the bottom and read the summary. Ever since I could remember, my Mom always told me, "Any seed planted at the top of a mountain will never grow, but a seed planted in the valley will become a great old tree, giving great shade and comfort to all." When it rains, the water immediately runs down the mountain into the valley. Anything growing at the top of the mountain never receives enough nourishment to grow much. Plants in the valley get all it needs from the water, so it grows alot. So what does this mean? If we put ourselves above others (a seed at the top of the mountain), we will never grow. If we put others above us ( a seed in the valley), we will grow so much that in the end, we will automatically be put above others (the tree grows so much that the top of the tree is high above the rest). We must be humble in all things. If we are not humble, it means that we are proud. Being proud means that you're showing too great self-esteem. In short, being arrogant is almost the same as being proud. Pride tends to lead a person into self-centeredness and selfishness. A person who is arrogant and proud puts themselves first before everyone else. They also think that whatever they do is best, and anything done any other way is wrong or not good enough. God says in the Bible to be humble. In Ecclestiastes, Solomon says that it is better to sit at the lowliest seat at the table and be moved to a better seat than to sit at the head of the table and be put down. Christ says that those who put themselves first in this world will be the last to enter the Kingdom of God, and those who put themselves last in this world will enter the Pearly Gates first. He also tells us the Parable of a Pharisee and a Tax-Collector. In this Parable, the Pharisee stands in the front of the altar, and practically boasts of how he gave sacrificed and prayed, he follows the commandments and is a leader to the community. In the back of the Temple stood a Tax-Collector. This man is down on his knees, face to the ground, begging God's forgiveness for all he has done wrong. Christ goes on to tell us that in the Eyes of God, the Tax-Collector (who is known as being a big sinner) has more favor than the Pharisee. I'm not as thorough w/ my Bible studies as I should, but I have yet to find or hear a place in The Book where God says that pride is a good thing. (This is one point that the Bible doesn't contradict itself in any place. If I'm wrong, please do correct me.) We should not think that the way we do, see or hear things is the best and only way in the world. As someone else recently said, we should be openminded. A narrowminded person tends to be arrogant. That doesn't always mean that a humble person is open-minded, but it's usually the case. Being open-minded does not mean that we should not stand for what we believe. We should stand for what we believe, but also listen to what others say, learn from them and respect it. Show them the theory in our beliefs and maybe they'll see it our way. If what each person says contradicts each other so much, go to the books, learn about it, pray, and find out what really is the best. Whoever is wrong should be humble enough to admit it and change. Each person is unique and has their right to have their unique beliefs. So respect it. I believe that is what God would want of us. (Y'know, I feel like all my emails say the same thing over and over again. Am I wrong on this?) SUMMARY: Be humble and open-minded. And that Mummy always knows best. :-) In Christ, Christine Philadelphia, PA USA _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ********************************************************************** This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. 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