WE can see in our picture this week, a good illustration of the pride of the swan and how it looks with disdain on the ducks by its side.
It does not look well even in animals, to have such a trait; but how much worse it is to see children, and even grown people sometimes, acting proudly. You will notice children who have better clothes than others, treat those who are not dressed as well, as being beneath them, and make the poorer ones feel uncomfortable in their presence, and seek to get away from them. Then there are those who are smarter than others, and they often like to tell how smart they are, and compare their ability with others, so as to be exalted above them, forgetting that Scripture, “Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Cor. 4:77For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Corinthians 4:7).)
All that we have, we have received, and we are responsible to God, who has given it to us, to use it the way that He wants us to. If one is stronger than another, he ought to help the weak; if smarter, help the stupid; if richer, help the poor; if having found Jesus as his Saviour, bring others to Him that they, too, may have that blessed Saviour.
“These six things doth the Lord hate, yea seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Prov. 6:16-1916These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16‑19).)
ML 12/03/1916