Glory hound

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

GLORY HOUND

Prov 25:27

27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

NIV

There is seems to be a great debate over this saying by our historians and commentators of old. Some would say the original language has been distorted by their English text. The ancient text carries a somewhat different idea then the modern texts do. First let us consider the text as it is written for us by the scholars who have the knowledge of both the ancient texts and of the original language. We also should consider that God is more than powerful enough to destroy any version which perverts his intended message which he inspired men to pen for us to have this record of God. Because he has told us all scripture is from his breathe and is profitable for us, we must first render these words as we have them. The idea of honey in moderation is very good, it tastes good and it is good for us. But too much honey will in fact make us nauseous and turn our stomach. This is how it will be if we think more highly of ourselves than we should. If we are always telling people how good we are, or how much of the scripture we know, or how much we give, or how much we do for the church, or for God, for or others, or for whatever. The idea is to live a humble life as Christ did. Although he was God, he was born in a barn. Sometimes we use that phrase to chide our children when then inadvertently leave the door open. “Were you born in a barn?” using in a negative sense, but yet Jesus was born in a barn and he entered this world in the most humble way and lived his life, although full of power and glory, as a humble man who had not place to lay his head, no earthy possessions, dependent on others to supply his daily needs, all the while supplying their daily bread. He had the power to turn water into wine, to turn a stone into a loaf of the finest bread, but he did nothing for himself, taking nothing, but giving all. This is the intent of this passage. We should not seek our own glory, it will only make us sick. We should live that same life of humility that Christ did, although we have the power of God indwelling within us and we have the ability to release his power through us. The other idea which some of our scholars of old have floated is the text is not rendered as it should be because some of the ancient texts give an idea that this too much honey is like searching too deep into weighty matters. This they applied to searching too deep into the word of God looking for too much truth that may not be the actual intent. Too much in depth thinking, too much hidden meanings which we were not intended to know. But the fact remains, God does not hide himself from us and he has had both recorded all we need to know him intimately as well as he sent his Spirit to dwell within us to lead us into all, not some, of the truth. God intends us to know and understand all that he has for us, so this idea of looking too much into his word, cannot be valid. We are thus left with the first interpretation of not seeking our own glory, but being full of humility as we represent Christ to the world. Even then we cannot think too highly of ourselves because we are humble. We simply need have humility in our humbleness. This would imply we are better listeners then talkers. Alone with a whole host of other attributes of God. So we are not to be a glory hound.