What is your "high wall?"

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; 

the righteous man runs into it and is safe. 

A rich man's wealth is his strong city, 

and like a high wall in his imagination. 

Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor."

Proverbs 18:10-12

I normally read the Proverbs as individual verses unless they are obvious fits, trying to glean from each one what God is saying to me.  As I read these verses this morning, I realized that they fit together quite well.  Over and over in the Scriptures we are warned against trusting in our wealth, because it can be gone in an instant.  Many people have seen that happen in their own lives in the past few years because of a ruptured economy and out of control spending.  Their high walls have collapsed around them.

But you say that that's no problem?  You have no riches to trust in?  That may be true, but you may have built a "high wall" in your life in some other way.  What do you depend on to keep you secure?  

• friends
• isolation
• fashion
• social standing
• your church--yes, even our church can become a "high wall" for us
• your family
•  beauty
•  

 I left a blank spot for you to fill in your "high wall."  Without the name of the Lord as our strong tower, the possibility of our becoming self-sufficient and proud is great, and the end is usually a mighty painful fall.  But as always, God has a back up plan for us very vain and sinful creatures.

"...humility comes before honor."  (v.12)  Ever been humbled?  It's a good thing!  Now God can restore us.  Humility gives us the honor of going before the Lord and accepting His "high wall" or strong tower.  When we run into it, we are safe.  As much as I don't really like to humble myself before the Lord (or people), it has always been good for me.  Another benefit is that it causes me to think twice before I run out of my "strong tower" again.

Listen to this wonderful song, "Strong Tower."  It might become a favorite!

Blessed be the name of the Lord,

Gloria