Last weekend I watched part of a show called Tuesdays with Bernie. It was a show about an old man who was dying. He was a former teacher, and the show was mostly about the relationship between the teacher and his former student. The old man in this show never stopped teaching, but this time he was teaching the young man about life. He said a couple of things in the show that struck me. One was to take a chance, and tell that person you are nuts about just how you feel. The other thing that struck me was when he talked about regrets. The young guy asked him what regrets he might have had, and the old guy said pride, vanity, and other things along that line. I know these were only actors playing a part in a TV show, but sometimes these shows can reveal something really good. On occasion I have had the opportunity to brag about something and, as you probably know I rarely miss the chance. Perhaps it is human nature to do this, but when I think of the people I respect the most in this world, I have always noticed that they never brag about themselves, or their accomplishments. They aren’t vain either, in fact they are quiet, humble, and competent. I rarely look back on the times I have bragged with pride. Rather when I look back on these times there is an element of shame. I wish I could take back the words because bragging takes some of the magic out of the moment. The Bible teaches us the right attitude with respect to bragging and vanity.
Psalm 12
Proverbs 27
Deuteronomy 8
Proverbs 3
Proverbs 8
Luke 18
14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
