The danger of not asking the Holy Spirit for guidance is running the risk of making a rash decision based upon partial information.

1 My child, keep my words and store up my commands within you. 2 Keep my commands and you will live…

I can think of a couple of reasons why I don’t ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.

1. I’m afraid that He will not agree with my assessment.
2. It takes too much time to ask Him, get an answer, and then carry out His will.

The first reason is arrogance (haughtiness) and the second is sloth (laziness). We ran into both of these attitudes in the garden with Adam and Eve. Eve, in her arrogance, thought that she could make the decision on her own about eating the fruit. Bad news. Adam was standing right there (see Genesis 3:6); he allowed Eve to be the spiritual leader of his household. Bad move. He was lazy. The most interesting part of the story is that it has been the tendency since then for women to desire control and for men to let them have it (see Genesis 3:16).

We combat these two attitudes with the godly attitudes of humility and servanthood. Luke tells two parables of Jesus that deal with humility and servanthood. The first parable is found in Luke 17:7-10. We serve our LORD Jesus Christ, doing as He commands. So, what is our attitude? “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'” The second parable is in Luke 18:10-14, about the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to worship. The Pharisee was arrogant, but the tax collector was humble. According to Jesus, the tax collector went home justified before God. He finished the parable with this teaching, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Let’s be neither arrogant nor lazy, but let’s take on the nature of a servant, just like Jesus did. “taking the very nature [form] of a servant.” Philippians 2:7.

Abba, may we be diligent in following You, our LORD and Savior. May I recognize arrogance and laziness in me when my flesh rears its ugly head and replace them with humility and servanthood. Make me more like you, LORD, through practice. Keep taking me back to the obstacle course until I master it! Amen.