Other books by the author Pearls: Scriptures To Live By Mental health Bible concordance. Over 2,500 Scriptures for counsel and guidance. Compiled under 172 mental health topics. Christlike: Walking The Walk A Scripture-based description of what it means to be a mentally healthy Christian, and how to become more Christlike. Visit the author at Counseling4Christians.com The #1 Christian Counseling Internet Site on the Web To schedule a presentation at your church or organization, please email us at: Counseling4Christians@gmail.com
Personal Study Version GODLY COUNSEL Scriptures For Today s World Written by Dr. Brian Campbell In Collaboration with Rev. Jim Angelakos
Acknowledgements A special thanks to Rev. Jim Angelakos for his help and encouragement throughout this project. To my father and mother, who dedicated their lives to me, and who raised my brother and me in a Godly household. Copyright Copyright 2010, by Dr. Brian Campbell (All Rights Reserved (Revised Edition)) Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com Note: In this book, the words of Christ are printed in italics. Consistent with modern editing practices, beginning and ending ellipses have been omitted when only partial quotes of Scriptures have been utilized. Also, quotation marks have been omitted except where they were necessary for clarity. Because of these editing practices, please always consult the original biblical text before quoting any Scriptures in this book.
Contents Foreword: This Book is About God s Word 7 Lesson: 1. Abortion 9 2. Addictions 15 3. Adolescent Rebellion 24 4. Anger 31 5. Anxiety/Worry/Fear 39 6. Backsliding 43 7. Belief/Salvation 53 8. Christ, Who He Is 62 9. Citizenship 66 10. Communication 70 11. Death and Dying 83 12. Depression 91 13. Divorce 104 14. Forgive/Forgiveness 108 15. Grief 112 16. Judgmental 116 17. Love 121 18. Marriage 132 19. Money/Riches 136 20. Parenting 140 21. Persecution 146 22. Prayer 151 23. Pride 167 24. Self-Esteem, Low 171 25. Sexual Sin 181 26. Sin 188 27. Suffering 197 28. Temptation 204 29. Thinking, Healthy 214 30. Trouble/Hardship 219 31. Truth 223 32. Unemployment 229 33. Weak/Tired 235 Topical Index: 239
For our children and grandchildren, Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed. (Robert Schuller) Pass it on. (9-12.15.22.5-25.15.21: 13.1.3.11.5.14.26.9.5; 3.1.12.5.2; 8.5.14.18.25; 2.1.2.25)
Foreword This Book Is About God s Word The Word of God is living and active and relevant to today s world and to today s problems. There is no greater authority for Christian living than God s Holy Word. Whatever your problem, concern, or question may be, God has provided valuable guidance and counsel in the Bible. This book is a follow-up and companion to a previous book authored by Dr. Campbell entitled: Pearls: Scriptures To Live By. Pearls grew out of Dr. Campbell s work as a Christian psychologist. It consists of over 2,500 Scriptures for counsel and guidance, compiled under 172 topics relevant to Christian mental health. The idea for the current work, Godly Counsel, was first suggested by Rev. Jim Angelakos, who saw a need for a Synopsis (summary) of topics covered in Pearls. Many of the subjects covered in Pearls are synthesized and subsumed under the major headings in Godly Counsel. Focus On The Scriptures This book is primarily about Scriptures how they speak to mental health issues prevalent in our society. As you read the Synopsis for each chapter, take time to read the Scriptures that relate to the summary text. The Scriptures are conveniently located at the bottom of each page. Please take time to read the Scriptures supporting the text. The Scriptures will change your thinking, and ultimately change your life. Topical Index If you do not see your problem/concern among the major Lessons included in this book, please consult the Topical Index (p. 239).
Pride 9
Lesson 23 Pride This is the one I esteem: He who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:2) Pride: self-aggrandizing, arrogant, or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness Pride is one of God s least favorite characteristics of human beings. He loves the humble, but talks strongly against the prideful. Pride typically leads to disaster, but humility leads to blessings. If you are prideful, you need to change your attitude and humble yourself before the Lord and before others, just as Jesus Christ humbled Himself for all humanity. Synopsis God detests the prideful 1 and promises that there will be a day when all people who are proud will be humbled. 2,3 If you have a prideful heart, you cannot hide it from God; the Lord judges our space The LORD detests all the proud of heart. (Proverbs 16:5) 1 The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled). (Isaiah 2:12) 2 The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled. (Isaiah 2:17) 3
11 Pride inmost thoughts. 4 And His judgment can be harsh. Pride often leads to the destruction 5 and the downfall of the individual. 6 God does not tolerate pride, 7 and a prideful heart distances us from God. 8 People who are prideful love to get praise and attention from others; in fact, they love the praise of men more than they love praise from God. 9 In addition, prideful people love themselves so much that their pride interferes with their ability to detect their own sin. 10 Their haughty behavior often leads to arguments and quarrels with others, and they typically fail to take advice when it is given 11 (Why do you need advice if you are almost perfect?). He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble. (Luke 1:51-52) 4 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) 5 Before his downfall, a man s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 18:12) 6 Whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure. (Psalm 101:5) 7 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. (Psalm 138:6) 8 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (John 12:43) 9 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. (Psalm 36:2) 10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. (Proverbs 13:10) 11
12 Pride God s Guidance The antidote for pride is humility. God holds in high regard, people who are humble. 12 This is not surprising, since humility is a cardinal feature of the personality of Jesus Christ. 13 Jesus humbled Himself for all human beings when, although He was equal to God, He came to earth and lived as a servant and died for our sins. 14 The Bible encourages us to adopt the same attitude of humility as shown by the actions of Jesus Christ. 14 As Christians, we are commanded to clothe ourselves in humility toward one another, 15 and never think of ourselves as being better than anyone else, 16 or look down on someone because of their low position or station in life. 17 In fact, we are to honor others more than w This is the one I esteem: He who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:2) 12 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29) 13 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:5-7) 14 All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5) 15 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3) 16 Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. (Romans 12:16) 17
Pride 13 than we honor ourselves, 18 and consider others to be better than ourselves. 19 In God s eyes, we are foolish if we think of ourselves more highly than we should. 20,21 Also, He advises against a life that focuses on receiving honor and praise from others. 22 God holds in high esteem those who are humble and have a contrite spirit. 23 In the end, it is humility and fear of the Lord that bring wealth and honor and life. 24 It is the meek who will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. 25 Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10) 18 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3) 19 Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3) 20 If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth! (Proverbs 30:32) 21 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one s own honor. (Proverbs 25:27) 22 This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:2) 23 Humility and fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4) 24 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (Psalm 37:11) 25