Welcome!
Progressive Devotions was born out of one preacher’s passion to build believers in the body of Christ. I am very thankful for what Keith Gardner is doing for God’s people through this site. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a guest writer this week. I am new at writing for the internet, so please bear with me as I begin this new type of ministry!
Bible Reading for Today
Proverbs 30
A Chapter About Your Life?
If God devoted one chapter of His Word to describing your life, thoughts, and words, how would that chapter read? Well, the chapter about this man called Agur reads beautifully! It is my prayer that we will “improve our chapters” by studying the example and teachings found here in Proverbs 30.
Learning From the Example of Agur
His Humility (verses 2-4)
As you will see in our study this week, Agur was a smart man and obviously a wise man. However, in verse 2, he calls himself the most stupid man on earth (“brutish”)! He also said that he does not have the “understanding of a man.” In other words, Agur considered his level of intelligence to that of an animal’s. I personally believe that these are confessions of humility. While Agur knew a lot, he did not know everything! In verse 3 he confessed that he did not know all that there is to know about God. In verse 4 he asked 6 questions about God.
- Who went up to heaven and came down?
- Who can hold the wind in his hands?
- Who can wrap the waters in his clothes?
- Who established all the ends of the earth?
- What is His name?
- What is His Son’s name?
Let me give you some homework. See if you can answer these questions about God. If you can answer these questions, are there some questions about God that you cannot answer? Of course there are. Our finite minds will never fully understand everything about the nature of God. This is not cause for discouragement, but it is cause for humility. Job was certainly humbled. Agur was humble.
Remember That God Blesses Humility
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. (Proverbs 29:23)
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6)
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:10)
Remember That God Condemns Pride
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. (Proverbs 29:23)
His Faith In The Word of God (verses 5-6)
Agur believed in the purity of the Word of God. Psalm 119:140 says, “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” Because God’s Word is pure, Agur believed the Bible could be trusted. God protects those that trust Him! Think of some verses that teach this truth. If you can’t think of some, search for them.
Agur believed in the inerrancy of God’s Word and understood the dangers of editing the Bible with words that are not from God.
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (Revelation 22:18)
Conclusion
Agur was a great example of humility and faithfulness to the Word of God. If our lives could be described in a beautiful chapter, these virtues must be a part of our lives.