Conceit Clouds Our Judgment - Job 36-37 and Acts 15:22-41
I had never noticed before how brash and conceited Elihu was in his speech to Job. I am not sure why I missed it, but it sure showed up this time. I see now that his problem was that he thought he was "perfect in knowledge." This arrogance clouded his reasoning. He could not see that God was doing something unusual in Job's case. Most of what Elihu believed was correct. The problem was that he could not see the rest, because his conceit made him think he knew it all. I think that goes along with being young, but we are all susceptible to this sin. I have fallen into it many times. It is not a conscious choice, because none of us who want to do God's will decide to be conceited. We know that is a sin. However, we slip into this because of a false confidence in ourselves. Instead, all of our confidence should be in God. We should allow Him to speak to us clearly each time. Then, we can know the whole truth.
I am glad that the church leaders and the apostles did the right thing at the Jerusalem conference in Acts 15. It would have been a terrible mistake to place the Law above grace. That could have happened, if they had not had clear judgment, but it didn't. We can all praise God that salvation is by grace through faith. It is not by works at all, or it is not a gift from God. However, I am afraid some conceit slipped into Acts 15. It came from Paul, when Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on the second missionary journey. Paul said no, evidently because Mark had gone home early on the first journey. Barnabas was ready to give him another chance, but Paul would not. He was convinced he was right. Maybe, he saw this as punishment for being lazy or worldly. However, later Paul came to admit that Mark was useful to him. Barnabas appeared to be so humble that he looked for the good in people, and he sought to build them up. Where would Paul have been, if Barnabas had not believed in him, when the rest of the leaders were afraid of him? Now, Paul and Barnabas are divided, and I think it stems from conceit clouding Paul's judgment. Let's be careful not to let that happen to us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 38-40 and Acts 16:1-21.
I am glad that the church leaders and the apostles did the right thing at the Jerusalem conference in Acts 15. It would have been a terrible mistake to place the Law above grace. That could have happened, if they had not had clear judgment, but it didn't. We can all praise God that salvation is by grace through faith. It is not by works at all, or it is not a gift from God. However, I am afraid some conceit slipped into Acts 15. It came from Paul, when Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on the second missionary journey. Paul said no, evidently because Mark had gone home early on the first journey. Barnabas was ready to give him another chance, but Paul would not. He was convinced he was right. Maybe, he saw this as punishment for being lazy or worldly. However, later Paul came to admit that Mark was useful to him. Barnabas appeared to be so humble that he looked for the good in people, and he sought to build them up. Where would Paul have been, if Barnabas had not believed in him, when the rest of the leaders were afraid of him? Now, Paul and Barnabas are divided, and I think it stems from conceit clouding Paul's judgment. Let's be careful not to let that happen to us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 38-40 and Acts 16:1-21.