October 30 -No thanks!

“Your pride has deceived you. Your capital is a fortress of solid rock; your home is high in the mountains, and so you say to yourself, ‘Who can ever pull me down?” - (Obadiah 1:3)

“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice” - Proverbs 13:10.

They say history repeats itself. What goes round, comes around, so, we've all met them...those people who are 'know it all's.' They wouldn't listen to a word of advice – even if their lives depended upon it. The result is, that when problems arise in their lives, they try to cope alone with an impossible situation, and fail miserably.

Perhaps you, like me, have over the years, faced your 'situations,' and also felt too independent to take advice, or even too proud to ask for help in the first place? Not a great admission....but we live and learn. Sadly this 'learning' often affects the lives of others in our personal circle - result of our pride. Seems too that the higher up the social and corporate ladders we climb, the more reluctant and proud we are to listen to well-meaning advice.

William Barclay writes of two well-known characters from history whose pride and independence resulted, not only in their own deaths, but in the loss of many innocent men.

Napolean had ambitions to invade Russia, but winter was approaching and he had been warned by the experts not to go ahead with the invasion. Napolean was told that in that particular year the birds had migrated far earlier than usual – a sure sign that a specially severe winter was ahead. Napolean thought this was a huge joke. Didn't they know who he was? - that advice was for lesser men than him.

Napolean refused to listen to the advice and went ahead with the invasion. He and his Grand Army perished in the snow, ice, and blizzards of Russia.

In Napolean's case, he never sought or accepted advice, but Roland did.....eventually. Roland and Oliver were friends and headed the rearguard of Charlemagne's army. One day on the battlefield thay found themselves surrounded by the Moors

As chief rearguard Roland carried on his side a great horn whose blast could be heard many miles away. Seeing they were surrounded Oliver told his friend to blow the horn, “and Charlemagne will come back and help”. But out of pride Roland refused to call for help.

The battle raged on and Oliver continued to advise his friend to blow the horn, signifying thar urgent help was needed. One by one their men were slain. Oliver too was killed and Roland lay dying.

Then, and then only did Roland blow the horn sending his cry for help across the hills and valleys. Charlemagne returned, but not a man was left alive. Roland had sent the call for help – too late. What about us, are we struggling to cope with a situation in our lives – perhaps a decision we urgently have to make and are too independent or proud to ask for, or accept advice and help?

As William Barclay writes: “It is one of the tragedies of life that so many errors and so much heartbreak could be saved, if people were only humble enough to accept advice.”

Gaither Vocal Band - “Chain Breaker (Live) provide today's music. Click on the picture to listen.