“Do not be over-righteous, neither be overwise” (Ecclesiastes 7:16).
This is not a protest against wisdom and righteousness. It is telling
us that, in our wisdom and righteousness, we must not become proud like
the Pharisees. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Without love, everything else is nothing. We must never forget this.
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8).
Where our wisdom (or knowledge) and righteousness become centred on
ourselves - ‘How wise and righteous I have become’, we have closed our
hearts to God. Listen to God. Learn from Him. Live for Him. Real wisdom
has nothing to do with self-centredness. It’s all about learning to be
Christ-centred. Real wisdom leads to true righteousness. It’s about
learning to become like Jesus. We look to Him and we learn to live for
Him.
2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27 Help us, Lord, to learn from the failure of King Uzziah. He began well – “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord … He set himself to seek God” (2 Chronicles 26:4-5). He lost his way – “When he was strong, he grew proud, and he was false to the Lord his God” ( 2 Chronicles 26:16). Help us, Lord, to become better people – not bitter people!
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