Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (ESV)

Recently, I made a cup of tea in my kitchen. Being English, there is nothing special in that, because I am a frequent visitor to the kettle and my tea caddy.

So it was with some surprise that, having switched on the kettle to make a brew, I returned from a minor chore to find that the kettle was cold. I had forgotten to replace the cordless kettle onto its base that is plugged into the mains.

Now, it was not that I had placed the kettle badly on the stand — which is understandable — it was that the kettle was sitting there in front of its stand, detached.

Oops! No power, no heat, no tea!

From this simple mistake, I began to ponder the scenario and start to join up the dots. Was this simple event God's prodding?

You see, after six years of annual review, I was relieved to gain a fistful of money to retire early last July. Having "won the victory", so to speak, and being able to leave with a small pension was great. Then, for Caroline — clearly all by the grace of God — to find a post lecturing straight away, set my life in a new direction full of stuff to do.

I thought that having left work with a payoff, I could now do everything, rushing about being invincible. But "a haughty spirit [goes] before a fall".

This has not been without its cost, having to deal with healing from my leaving work. I had been severely stressed through the process of championing the need for students' support with my managers. Latterly, added to the meltdown, was the coming to terms with being a househusband at 58 years old. Sadly, I found that I cannot do what I once did, and then there was the realisation that being a househusband is harder work than I had appreciated!

As today's verse really means, self-importance comes before a fall — or as it was in my case, self-reliance and self-importance.

1 Chronicles 29:14b – For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. (ESV)

How great it is to know the truth of that verse, now that I have come to my senses once more. How chilling to know where I have been: out in the world on my own!

Okay, so where does God find us today? Is it resting in His enabling power, or is it having become a bit detached from His love, enjoying our own strength and focused on mammon, destined to grow cold in the business of being important in our own eyes?

Tough call?

Prayer: Lord, it is great to know that You are patient and forbearing as well as holy and righteous. Please do not leave us in the world, left to our own devices, because without You in us, we become cold and useless. Allow us to run into Your arms today and say, "Daddy, forgive us". Grant us a great big hug by the power of Your Holy Spirit. May we then bring that love, power, and warmth into the world where You take us in Your service today, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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