25. He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
The contrast between the proud, and him that trusteth in the LORD, is very remarkable. It shews, that pride is the root of unbelief. The man, having cast off God, expects nothing, fears nothing, from him. He lives as if there was no God. His proud heart is large; not, like the wise man's, in fullness of capacity (1 Kings 4:29), but in ambitious grasp, and insatiable appetite.† Never is he content within his own bounds. In the world he would be a Haman (Esther 3:1, 2), in the church a Diotrephes — one “loving to have the pre-eminence.” (3 John 9.) It is his nature to stir up strife. Every one that does not accord with his own opinion of himself, is supposed to be wanting in respect. Thus “by pride cometh contention.” (Chapter 13:10.) And always will there be some thorn of mortified ambition (Esther 5:11-13), or some fresh craving of unsatisfied desire (Ecclesiastes 5:10, 11), wasting him, so that he “fadeth away in his ways.” (James 1:11.) What an empty shadow of fugitive happiness! So contrary to the fatness of him, that putteth his trust in the LORD. (Chapter 16:20. Psalm 84:12. Jeremiah 17:7, 8.) ‘He shall be filled with good and solid things.’†
Christian! Dread the occasions of stirring up strife — the canker of vital godliness. Keep near to thy Lord. It was when the disciples were talking together by the way, instead of walking in immediate communion with their Master, that strife was stirred up. (Mark 9:33, 34.) Does not this point to the grand preservative? Let it be thine element and thy joy. Here alone we cherish the life of faith. And truly — as Luther says — ‘Faith is a precious thing.’ (Compare 2 Peter 1:1.) It rolls away all disquieting care. (1 Peter 5:7.) Our cause is with him, and we are at rest. (Psalm 37:5-7.) How much more, when the great burden is removed! ‘Smite, Lord, smite; for thou hast pardoned.’ “Healed with the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, we shall be made fat, as the calves of the stall.” (Malachi 4:2. Isaiah 58:11.)
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