I'm Pastor Loren, and welcome back to "A Word from the Vine." As we go through life, we often encounter situations where our pride and resentment can get the better of us. We may hold grudges against others, harbor jealousy, or make decisions based on selfish motives. But what happens when these negative emotions are allowed to fester within a community, and how can we guard against them?
Let me tell you a parable: A group of travelers came to a small town, and they noticed a beautiful garden filled with blooming flowers. They asked the gardener how he managed to keep such a lovely garden, and he replied that it was due to the hard work and cooperation of the townspeople. Each person had a role to play, and they worked together for the greater good of the community.
One day, however, a new person came to town and began to spread rumors and gossip about the other residents. The people became divided, and soon the once beautiful garden began to wither and die. The gardener tried to keep things under control, but the damage had been done. The town was left with a barren wasteland, and the people were left to pick up the pieces of their broken community.
The moral of the story is that pride and resentment can be like a cancer within a community, spreading destruction and division. But we have the power to guard against these negative emotions, and to work together for the greater good. As Christians, we are called to love one another, to forgive each other, and to put the needs of others before our own. We must strive to be humble and to resist the temptation of pride and resentment, lest we find ourselves like the barren wasteland in our parable.
Let us remember the words of Proverbs 16:18, which says, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." May we strive to live our lives with humility and grace, and may we always work towards building up, rather than tearing down, our communities.
In conclusion, let us all strive to be more like the Good Samaritan and less like the Levite and the priest in our daily lives. Let us not be blinded by our own pride or prejudices, but rather seek to love and serve all those around us, regardless of their background or status. Let us remember that true greatness lies in humility and selflessness, and let us pray for the grace and strength to embody these virtues in all that we do. Amen.
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