“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another”
provoking one another,
There are two outcomes to conceit: 1) We irritate others, and 2) We cause others to envy us. Conceit always disrupts the cause of Christ.
“Provoking” is to cause irritation in others. The word “provoking” means to call forth, as to a contest. The idea is to arouse evil activity in another by comparison. These people insult others at the drop of a hat. They get underneath the skin of others and deliberately irk them.
Principle:
Pride always brings out the worst in other people.
Application:
Pride always brings out the worst in other people. It challenges and sparks defensive pride in others. Some people provoke others to good works. Other people simply provoke others!
When we line ourselves with the Holy Spirit, we will not allow conceit to grip our hearts, for it always exasperates others. We rasp others by our pride. We irk them. Some of us have a special gift with this. Some say the right thing at the wrong time or the wrong thing at the right time. They are born inside out.
