“One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound wisdom.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.
Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:1, 10, 12, 24 CSB
Selfishness and pride are the evidence of coming destruction, especially when that person is isolating from those who can give wisdom. At the same time we can have pride and selfishness and surround ourselves with other people who think like us…there is little protection there, since the problem stems from our own thinking. Just because we find others who share our opinions and desires does not mean we have found “wisdom”.
The antidote to pride and selfishness is surrender to the one who is “closer than a brother”, who is “a strong tower”, who is Jesus. He is the ultimate protector and will provide the only thing we really need in life: His presence. After all He is “closer than a brother” because His Spirit lives inside us…and He strengthens us to get through any storm, because He never leaves us on our own.
Lord, help me to live in surrender to Your will and help me to see when pride, selfishness, and isolation are pulling me further from You!
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