“Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.” —Psalm 131:1 NLT
Know Your Role
pride produces
“A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as ‘the Great One–the Power of God.’ They listened closely to him because for a long time he has astonished them with his magic. But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.” —Acts 8:9-13 NLT
“When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. ‘Let me have this power, too,’ he exclaimed, ‘so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!’” —Acts 8:18-19 NLT
“But Peter replied, ‘May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.’” —Acts 8:20-23 NLT
a quiet soul is content with
“Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.” —Psalm 131:1 NLT
being content with your
“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: ‘You have said: ‘I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven’t I had enough pain already? And now the Lord has added more! I am worn out form the sighing and can find no rest.’
Baruch, this is what the Lord says: ‘I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted. Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go.’” —Jeremiah 45:2-5 NLT
Discussion Questions
Have you ever witnessed someone trying to work or function in a position that was beyond their qualification? Describe the expereince. How did you feel watching this person?
Have you ever been in a similar situation? How does the way you felt in that experience compare to how you felt watching the other person operating outside of their competency?
Think of a time where you willingly stepped into a position that was beyond your qualification. What was your motivation for doing so? What was the result?
Sometimes our motives are pure in those moments, sometimes they are directed by God’s will for us, and sometimes we’re motivated by pride. Describe a time in your life where pride produced a craving that wasn’t in line with your calling.
Read Acts 8:18-23. How does Simon’s request to buy the power of the Holy Spirit indicate that his heart was not right with God?
Can you see how a quest for personal advancement has robbed you of peace and contentment? How so?
How does submitting to God’s placement of you produce peace and contentment?
What is required of us to submit to God’s placement in stead of pursuing personal advancement?
What would the rest of your day look like if you simply chose to be content with whatever role God chose to assign you?