More Word to the World

Paphos

The next verse reveals that the missionary team moved on to the next city, Paphos.

Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

Paphos was on the opposite side of the island from Salamis and it was the capitol city where the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus, lived. Luke mentions some spiritual accomplishments but also mentions the conflict they found.

Acts 13:7, 12
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Notice the order of the names of the missionaries in verse 2 and verse 7: Barnabas and Saul. However during their time of sharing the word of God, they received opposition from a “child of the devil,” and it was Paul who spoke up. Listen to the events described beginning in verse 6:

Acts 13:6-9
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Notice two things here:

a.         First, much as it was during the ministry of Jesus, when God and His Word became active, this godly activity stirred up demonic spirits in the region who sought to cause trouble.
b.         Second, notice who spoke up: Saul. And also from this verse forward, he is referred to as Paul. Perhaps he sought a way to land on common ground with Sergius Paulus, who shared that name.

Although Barnabas had always been named first up to this point, this is where Paul began to take the lead in ministry. Notice the dramatic shift in how Luke describes the team as they departed from Paphos:

Acts 13:13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos…

Barnabas was indeed a big-hearted man. When he felt the time was right, he willingly stepped back into the shadows of this younger man. Remember that it was by Barnabas’ influence that helped the Jerusalem church to overcome their initial reluctance to accept Paul. Paul’s former reputation put him at odds with many people but Barnabas looked beyond Paul’s past and into his future.  Without jealousy or bitterness, Barnabas the mentor stepped back to become a part of “Paul and his company.”

After Paul rebuked the sorcerer, Elymas or Bar-jesus, for interfering in the ministry, Elymas became blind and had to be led about by the hand. The important event at Paphos was that the Roman proconsul was now a believer.

Prov 22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

Prov 22:4 True humility and fear of the Lord
lead to riches, honor, and long life. NLT

In today’s verse, riches, honor and long life are shown as the end result of two kinds of behavior. This trio of benefits has been the pursuit and desired goal of most people throughout human history. Very few seek the opposite of these, i.e., poverty, dishonor or short lives. It is simply part of our human make-up to prefer riches, honor and long life. Solomon observed that these three come about as a result of a healthy fear of the Lord coupled with humility. Certainly everyone who possesses great wealth is not humble. It is also certain that everyone who lives a long life is not a God-fearing person. However, the humble and God-fearing type, place themselves in a position similar to the bottom floor of an elevator where the likelihood of going higher is significant. If I position myself on the elevator on the top floor of the building, there is only one direction to go—down. This idea holds true with God. He is looking after the humble with the intent to lift them up.

Prov 22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

Prov 22:4 The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. AMP

Prov 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Prov 18:12 Pride ends in destruction; humility ends in honor. TLB

Earlier this week we examined Proverbs 15:33 which ends with the exact wording as today’s verse: “before honour is humility.” I wish to focus on how The Living Bible paraphrases this: “humility ends in honor.” Maybe you are like many people who have said or thought this: “I have tried humility and it just didn’t’ work for me. I’m being walked on.” It may be the case for you that the “end” of humility has just not yet arrived.  This concept is best illustrated by the New Testament writing of Peter: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due [proper] time (1 Peter 5:6). We may think we are on Eastern Time here in Indiana, but really, we are on God’s Time, as are those of you who are on Pacific Time, Tokyo Time, or London Time. Keep walking humbly before God even if you see those who are arrogant gaining some advantage over you. Their advantage is temporary because pride ends in destruction. In the proper time, it will be God who does the lifting of the humble. Jesus said the meek will inherit the earth. Inheritance time may be just ahead for you so keep to the journey with meekness.

Prov 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Today’s verse uses a format that is used often in Proverbs to contrast opposites and to reveal the virtue of one idea over another. Humility is the topic so our focus is on that side of the equation in this verse. Being humble and dwelling with the lowly is preferred to being among the proud and wealthy. That sounds counter-intuitive  It would seem logical that having a lot of wealth would tend to make a person happy because their needs and wants would both be satisfied which should lead to happiness. However, ironically, wealth and pride tend to rob their holders of happiness and satisfaction with life. Dickens sought to portray that in A Christmas Carol in the contrast of the characters Scrooge and Cratchit. Wealth and pride could not provide Scrooge with a better life than what Cratchit’s humble existence brought to him. Pride stings and humility comforts.

Prov 15:33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Prov 15:33 The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor. NIV

Humility first and then honor next. A person’s pride will lead him to grasp at honor but humility leads one to silently or quietly defer that honor to others. Jesus told a parable that illustrates this well in Luke 14:7-11. When asked to attend a banquet, Jesus advised, “Go and sit down in the lowest room.” In other words, select a table somewhat removed from the head table, one not reserved for the guests of honor. If the host sees that you have selected a less-honorable place yet he feels that you are deserving of greater honor, the host himself will come to you and invite you to the higher place and you will be delighted to receive that honor. But to presumptuously sit at the head table and then be asked by the host or an attendant to relocate because that is a reserved seat is embarrassing. We call that a humiliating experience. It is better to humble yourself than to be pressed into humiliation. By displaying humility, it leaves open the option to others to lift you.

Prov 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Prov 11:2 People who are proud will soon be disgraced. It is wiser to be modest. TEV

The topic of humility in today’s verse is best illustrated in the Today’s English Version. Those who are proud will find shame and disgrace because of pride, but “it is wiser to be modest.” Consider this scene. Dr. Brains is being presented a Nobel prize for some ground-breaking research that will benefit many people. The one presenting the award goes on for several minutes describing the work of Dr. Brains and presents him the award. Dr. Brains’ prepared two different opening lines for acceptance speech. Which is the better one? (1) “Yes. Thank you all. I am very glad that you all finally realize how smart I am.” Or (2) “Thank you for this award. However, I wish to give thanks to my research team, without whose labors this work would have not been possible.” Which is the wiser choice? The display of arrogance is in bad taste and leaves the committee wondering if they made the right choice. A display of humility confirms the appropriateness of the award to the award committee. It is wiser to be modest.

Prov 6:3 Do this now, my son, deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

Prov 6:3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend. NKJV

Today’s verse is an example of how humility is an essential quality in reconciling relationships. The context here is cosigning a loan for a friend. That is a topic we will cover in detail at a later date, but for today, we will merely mention that to do so can damage relationships. If you have a relationship gone bad for whatever reason, especially when you share fault for some inappropriate word or action on your part, approach them with humility as you seek to reconcile. That is an essential action for repairing the situation. Putting on a humble attitude helps you to readily accept responsibility for your actions and the harm they have caused to another. If you approach them in this way, you greatly increase your chances of improving and repairing the relationship. On the other hand, holding to pride will only cause further relational breakdown.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

We add these parallel verses from the New Testament for emphasis of the point made in Proverbs 3:34. Not only do we as humans tend to give more grace to the humble, so does God. It is the nature of humility to draw favor. Note how Peter indicates we can be “clothed” with humility as if it is a garment that we can put on. As we are intentional as to the clothes we pick out to wear (ok, maybe not so much for some of us guys), we ought to also exercise care to consciously pick out humility and put it on. It may be easy for us to take credit for good acts we perform, or to boast of the authority we possess or for the higher-ups we know, but when we deliberately put on the garment of humility, it helps us shift the focus away from us and on to others. Think about putting on humility today. God thinks you look good in it.

Prov 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Prov 3:34 He has no use for conceited people, but shows favor to those who are humble. TEV

We are taking a second look at yesterday’s verse. Here, Solomon again uses the couplet to present the topic of the verse, but rather than being a completive couplet that we saw in Proverbs 15:33 that we looked at on Monday, today’s verse is a contrasting couplet. Concepts such as pride and humility are easier to define by looking at their contrasting characteristics because they are at opposite ends of a continuous scale. Imagine a one-foot ruler is our scale. At zero inches you imagine the word “Proud” and at twelve inches is the word “Humble.” Rate yourself on that scale. Are you closer to the 0 or 12? Those with the higher number receive more grace than those with low ratings. I saw a good example of this on a recent episode of the Food Channel’s program, Chopped. A group of cafeteria cooks were competing against each other to become the “Chopped Champion” for a $10,000 prize. These ladies were so used to functioning as servants to children (the most humble) that their humble attitude was very apparent in the manner in which they spoke and how graciously they treated their fellow competitors. As is the manner of the show, one cook was awarded the $10,000 prize and the other cooks warmly congratulated the winner. Then, in a surprising conclusion of the program, and at least in part because of the very humble attitude of these cooks, the Food Network awarded the three “losing” cooks a consolation prize of $5,000 each. That is something they have not done for former spiteful and arrogant losers whose arrogance dominated their words and conduct. The humble just get more grace because people want to help them. We tend to want to chew up and spit out the arrogant.