Sermon Illustrations on Pride — page 4

Works and Builder Both Destroyed

Winstanley was so proud of the former Eddystone Lighthouse that as

he looked at its goodly proportions, he said: "I only wish that I was

inside in a great storm." That was a proud boast to make, for he is

inside and the night lowers dark and chill and there is a moan in the

sea that tells of an unprecedented disturbance of the elements.

Winstanley is inside. "Ah, he says, "I shall see how the good old work

stands and as the edifice rocks in the storm. Winstanley thinks it is

all right. He is sitting there by the fireside, the wind roaring about

him and the spray dashing up on the windows; but in the grey dawn of

the next morning they looked out from the mainland and the lighthouse

was gone. Winstanley was lost in the work of his own hands. His boast

availed not; the storm was too big for the edifice.

Oh man, were it but an ordinary storm I would say to you: "Settle

down in your good works." Were it merely the little bit of tossing we

have in this earthly life, I would say: "Build, build on your own

strength; it will do you good; but man, the storm is supernatural. The

great roll of that sea will bring down every self-built lighthouse.

Never did the earth see such a storm; never did such a torrent play on

the human soul as eternity; there was never such a cataclysm on our

afflicted earth; stars falling, earth reeling like a drunken man. Your

works will go by the board as sure as God is on the throne. You cannot

get to heaven by your good works. --John Robertson

The Story of Gossamer

In his delightful children's book, Gossamer, Stephen Cosgrove tells

the story of an old, blind butterfly who helps a beautiful but vain

winter weasel learn that true beauty is found in the heart, not in the

mirror. The wise old butterfly had learned that lesson the hard way.

He himself had once been beautiful and vain, but one day he flew

toward a light to gaze on his own beauty, only to crash into a lamp

whose flame blinded him and singed his wings. Why do bad things look

so good? The story of Gossamer the butterfly suggests that pride

often plays a large role in the process.

Trapped By Lifting Up Their Heads

Job 10:15

Foolish birds are the turkeys that never lift up their heads when they are feeding and never let them down when they are not. So, in the West men are accustomed to select a sort of slope or side hill and cut a little channel or path and surround it with a kind of rail fence without roof or any protection. Along this path they strew corn. And the wild turkeys come in flocks and pick up the corn, following the path, and do not look to see where they are being led to till they have passed under the lower rail and got into the enclosure. Then, there being no corn, there they lift up their heads and see where they are. They cannot fly over the fence (a turkey can not rise on its wings unless he has a chance to run) and they cannot get out unless they lower their heads and that they will not do. So, they are caught. --Beecher

\reference{Job 10:15}{Job 10:15} says, "...if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head..." One becomes a Christian by lowering his head, as it were, and he who then lifts up his head in spiritual pride is likely to be caught in satan's snare. The only way out of such a trap is to again lower one's head in humble confession and repentance, and that some will not do. --Duane V. Maxey

When We Can't Do For Ourselves

A secular weekly tells the story of a little fellow who had reached

that epoch in a boy's life when he gets his first pants, and the

uplift unsettled his spiritual equilibrium. Hitherto he had been a

devout little Christian and joined his little sister every morning in

asking the Lord's help and blessing for the day. But this morning,

when he looked at his new pants, and felt himself a man, he stopped

his little sister as she began to pray as usual, "Lord Jesus, take

care of Freddie today, and keep him from harm," and, like poor Simon

Peter, in his self-sufficiency, he cried out, "No, Jennie; don't say

that; Freddie can take care of himself now."

Little Jennie was shocked and frightened, but knew not what to do;

and so the day began. Before noon they both climbed up into a cherry

tree, and while reaching out for the tempting fruit Freddie went head

foremost down into an angle between the tree and the fence. With all

his desperate struggles and those of his frightened sister, he was

utterly unable to extricate himself. At last he said to Jennie, with a

look of mingled shame and intelligence he said, "Jennie, pray: Freddie

can't take care of himself after all."

Just then a strong man was coming along the road, and the answer to

their prayer came quickly as he took down the fence and freed Freddie.

The boy went forth with a lesson for life, to walk like Peter, with

downward head and humble trust in a strength and care more mighty than

his own. --A. B. Simpson

One Less Than You Think

Job 20:4

An industrialist, though somewhat untutored, was about to receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from a rather hard-pressed college. After the initial reception the evening before, one of the more sensitive members of the faculty approached the president and said, “This man doesn’t look like a scholar to me.” The president said, “No, but he looks like a woman’s dormitory to me.”

After the occasion, the industrialist was riding in the back seat of his limousine with his wife. Patting his rather expansive stomach while smoking a large cigar and thinking of the beautiful words spoken about him at the doctoral ceremony, the industrialist said to his wife, “Dear, You know, there are not many great men in the country today.” She said, “Dear, you are absolutely right. In fact, there is one less than you think.”

============

A similar illustration that focuses on preachers:

Most Christians struggle with pride from time to time. I know I do. Melvin Newland told the story of another preacher who got a Christmas card one year. This card had a note from a lady in his congregation. She was very complimentary about his preaching, and even compared him to Billy Graham. She finished by saying, “I think you are one of the really great preachers of all time.”

*Later that day he showed the note to his wife. It was a big church, and his wife didn’t know the woman, so she asked, “Who is that woman?” Her preacher husband replied, “She is a very intelligent woman in the congregation who loves great preaching.”

*Then he then asked his wife, “How many great preachers do you suppose there really are in the world?” She quickly brought him back down to earth by answering: “One less than you think.”

________

SermonCentral illustration contributed by Melvin Newland - Source: SermonCentral sermon “Dealing with Pride” by Lynn Floyd - Luke 18:9-13

============

A shorter version:

A young preacher, looking up from his reading, asked his wife, "How many really great preachers do you think there are?"

She replied, "Well, I don't know, but there is probably one less than you think."

(untitled)

God rules in the affairs of men. Napoleon, at the height of his career, is reported to have given this cynical answer to someone who asked if God was on the side of France: "God is on the side that has the heaviest artillery."

Then came the Battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon lost both the battle and his empire. Years later, in exile on the island of St. Helena, chastened and humbled, Napoleon is reported to have quoted the words of Thomas à Kempis: "Man proposes, God disposes."

This is a lesson with which history confronts us all. God is able to work his sovereign will - despite man.

Look What I Did!

Many Christians are like the woodpecker who was pecking on the trunk of a dead tree. Suddenly lightning struck the tree and splintered it. The woodpecker flew away unharmed. Looking back to where the dead tree had stood, the proud bird exclaimed, "Look what I did!"

(untitled)

A woman found a note on the coffee-shop menu: "We will pay you $10 if you order a sandwich we can't make." She ordered an elephant-ear sandwich. After several minutes. The waitress returned and said, "Here's your $10, ma'am. We can't make that sandwich." "I'm not surprised," answered the woman. "Where would you ever get elephant ears?" "Oh, it's not the ears, honey," said the waitress. "We're out of those big buns."

Keep Your Eye On Your Great Sinfulness

When the nineteenth-century American evangelist Asahel Nettleton was asked what he considered the best safeguard against spiritual

pride, he replied, "I know of nothing better than to keep my eye on my great sinfulness."

The Perfect Storm

Job 20:4

Have you heard the story about the sailor who leads his crew on a sea voyage, undaunted by storm or sea, only to end up in disaster? Sounds like the hugely successful film, THE PERFECT STORM. But the story I have in mind is thousands of years older -- the ORESTEIA by the Greek playwright Aeschylus.

THE PERFECT STORM may be the hottest film of the summer of 2000, but the ORESTEIA is among the greatest plays of Western Civilization. Both teach poignant lessons about the dangers of pride. And although THE PERFECT STORM's filmmakers may not have had that in mind, Aeschylus certainly did.

The stories both tell of men of astounding determination. In the ORESTEIA, King Agamemnon leads a confederation of Greeks on a voyage to besiege Troy and recover his brother's wife, Helen.

But the gods raise up a massive storm that threatens to end the war before it begins. Well, Agamemnon refuses to be stopped. And rather than risk his fragile coalition, he makes the fateful decision to sacrifice his daughter to appease the gods.

The Greeks cross the Aegean Sea and ultimately defeat the Trojans. But their success is mixed -- particularly for Agamemnon, who returns home only to be murdered by his vengeful wife.

It may seem difficult to relate to this classic figure, but the Greeks surely recognized the king's tension, between his family and his job. And how many of us today face the same dilemma?

It's easier, perhaps, to relate to the fishermen on the ANDREA GAIL -- they needed money. A run of bad luck prompts the captain to make one last trip for the season. But he finds little success, and the fishermen plead with him to turn back. Yet he presses on, far out to sea. Finally, they fill the hold of the ship with fish, only to find their path home blocked by a storm of incredible power. Waiting out the storm's fury would cost them their catch, so they sail on, into disaster.

We can't help but be sympathetic -- relating to such a fateful choice is, of course, the point of tragedy. But tragedy also helps us recognize error, and how to avoid it.

Agamemnon's refusal to take no for an answer led to his tragic fate -- the deaths of his daughter and himself. Similarly, the ANDREA GAIL's captain wouldn't listen to reason. It cost him not only his fishermen's lives, but that of a Coast Guardsman attempting rescue as well.

We often hear words like "gumption" or "chutzpah" used to describe this kind of thinking. But the Greeks called it HUBRIS -- a better word, one which means excessive pride -- an unwillingness to admit limitations.

And this is why, in the Christian view of things, pride is a deadly sin, for it is often self-destructive. We may be created in God's image, but we are NOT "the measure of all things."

___________________

The Unsinkable Myth

Matthew 18:2

I wasn’t planning to watch anything on TV the other night except the news, but I got hooked by a program that followed. It was this fascinating special on the Titanic, including an interview with one of the survivors. She was just a little girl that awful night when the ship they swore was unsinkable went down in the icy waters of the Atlantic. Over 1,500 passengers died that night.

The Titanic had been constructed with these water tight compartments in their hull that were supposed to contain any flooding. Well, she left England in April of 1912, traveling, according to some, at speeds and at a time that the Titanic never should have been traveling. But remember, the Titanic was unsinkable, right? Until it hit that iceberg. Actually it only scraped the iceberg. Most passengers never even knew about it, but that simple scrape had left a deep hole in the hull below the water line. For a while no one knew how much danger they were in. But within a relatively short time the unsinkable ship was gone. The man who had designed it went down with the ship. This crusty old survivor summed up her lifetime reflections on the Titanic in a few haunting words. She just said, “It was a monument to human arrogance.”

Human arrogance. It sinks more than ships. Pride has cost many people their eternity.

Our word for today from the Word of God, Matthew 18:2, “He (Jesus) called a little child and had him stand among them and He said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.’” It’s pretty sobering. If you can’t become humble and dependent, you’ll never see Heaven! Why? Well, a lot of us are human Titanics steaming along through life feeling unsinkable. Our motto is “I can handle it.” We think that spirit of independence and self-effort will somehow also help us make it with God. That’s a tragic miscalculation. My evaluation of me doesn’t matter. I’m not the judge, only God’s matters.

Here’s what he says in Romans Romans 3:10, “There is no one righteous, no not one ... every mouth will be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” No one will be declared righteous in his sight. We’re sailing right for an iceberg called the judgment of God and we’re not ready. We’re counting on being unsinkable but we’re headed for an eternal tragedy.

Jesus said pride would keep people out of Heaven -- religious pride, family pride, image pride. He said we needed to become like a little child who willingly admits that he cannot make it without outside help. You see, that’s why Jesus came. The Bible says, “When we were still powerless Christ died for the ungodly, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Sin carries an Eternal death penalty. It can only be paid by someone dying. And in his awesome love for you and me, God’s own Son did the dying for us on His cross, and now He calls us to come to him, not proud and self-sufficient, but realizing we have nothing to contribute to our own rescue. We just have to bow at His cross and say, “Jesus, you’re my only hope.”

Every day you live without that personal surrender to the Savior, is an eternal risk. Somewhere out there in that distance, maybe not very far, is the iceberg. But you can prepare for it now and maybe miss it completely by finally getting yourself to that cross to put all your trust in Jesus.

Pride. It cost people their lives that awful night on the Titanic. Please, don’t let it cost you Heaven, open your heart to Jesus today. Only He is unsinkable, and you can belong to Him.

Today’s Daily Wisdom is written by Ron Hutchcraft, based on his popular \webpage{http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm/awwy/awwymenu.htm} “A Word With You” broadcast (Available in transcripts or RealAudio format.) \webpage{http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm} Ron Hutchcraft Ministries has been on- line with GCN since February, 1996, providing practical answers to real life issues.

Copyright Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.

Pride Caused the Challenger Disaster

Job 20:4

When the space shuttle Challenger lifted into the sky and blew up seventy-three seconds into its flight, the world was shocked. Most of us have seen the videotape of that terrible moment many times. And we can recreate the picture in our minds of a deep blue sky marked with twisted trails of smoke and large chunks of metal plummeting toward the ocean. And we know, as we recall the grim specter of the explosion, that among the falling pieces were the bodies of some of America's finest men and women.

Most of us also know that the investigations into the cause of the tragedy pointed out some serious shortfalls in human judgment and materials management. The New York Times put it frankly: the ultimate cause of the space shuttle disaster was pride. A group of top managers failed to listen carefully to the warnings of those down the line who were concerned about the operational reliability of certain parts of the booster rocket under conditions of abnormal stress. The people in charge were confident that they knew best and that they should not change the launch schedules. They were wrong.

-- Gordon MacDonald, Rebuilding Your Broken World.

See: Proverbs 11:3

Guilt Smothered By Pride

Job 20:4

I have been speaking on the reality of guilt and now we come to the relationship of guilt to pride. Our feelings of guilt can be buried under the weight of our own egos, so that guilt is smothered by pride. How we are perceived in public or appear in the eyes of our friends is for many of us an all-consuming passion, is it not? And in turn, it has led to fashioning excuses when confronted with wrongdoing.

This proclivity to look good under the accusing eye spares nobody; but a great tragedy ensues when the one so seduced refuses to accept any blame. Like most of life’s basic lessons, this one is reinforced time and again. Yet, many never recognize the stumbling block of pride in themselves but hate it when they see it in others. How many in this world will never enjoy a walk with God because of pride that makes them unable to acknowledge their guilt before Him?

Jesus spoke poignantly to this issue in a parable of two men, one humble and the other proud. The proud man went into the temple to pray and said, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, and adulterers... I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." But the humble man, feeling unworthy to even enter the temple, stood at a distance. With his head down he beat his breast and cried, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Jesus tells us that the latter man went home right with God. For, Jesus says, "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." The Bible makes it clear that God resists the proud and embraces those who in humility seek Him.

To resist repentance before God is not independence, but enslavement. To hold on to pride in the face of guilt is not to become bigger, but to become hollow. We must seek humility, for pride spawns a multitude of offenses and is the most destructive of all attitudes.

Jesus saved His strongest words for those who thought they were strong and His gentlest words for those who saw themselves as weak? That is why the first of all of the beatitudes is the one that says "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Recognition of spiritual poverty is the beginning of joy that only God can give. We will be well warned to know that He knows how to exalt us without flattering us and to humble us without humiliating us.

_________________________

*

Just Too Smart

An experiment was conducted in which six bees and six flies were placed inside a bottle. The bottle was turned on its side with its base facing the light coming through the window. At the other end, the mouth of the bottle was open. In that situation it was discovered that bees will persist in trying to find their way to freedom through the base -- until they die of hunger or exhaustion. It seems that the bees' attraction to light is their undoing in this experiment. The light shining through the base seems to convince them that there is no other way out. And so they press up against the bottom of the bottle closing themselves off from all other possibilities. Consequently, they cannot discover the opening at the other end of the bottle. The featherbrained flies, on the other hand, all get out of the bottle within two minutes. Seemingly unconcerned, they just keep buzzing all around inside until they sally forth to freedom through the neck and out the opening. Thus, the bees remain prisoners of their own logic while the flies meet the good fortune that often awaits the simple.

See: Prov 14:8, 12; Eccl 10:1

(Prov 14:8 KJV) "The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit."

(Prov 14:12 KJV) "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

(Eccl 10:1 KJV) "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour."

_________

Motivation Or Pride

Ravi Zacharias in his book "Can Man live without God?" tells the following story. A young somewhat cocky cowboy was riding his horse one day when he spied a hunched-over old farmhand on a mule. Deciding to have a little fun the young cowboy drew his 6-shooter and told the old man to get down off his mule. He then asked the old man "if he had ever danced" and began to empty his revolver at his feet with great laughter. The old man slowly turned back to his mule (unamused) and put his hand into his pack and drew a shotgun and aimed it at the now bulletless young cowboy and asked, "Did you ever kiss a mule?" To which the young cowboy said with fear, "No, but I have always wanted to!"

TS -- There is nothing like a bullet for motivation. While the Lord does not put a gun to our heads he does give us the stories of the Bible for direction and motivation. Are you listening?

(untitled)

Galatians 6:1

STUMBLING

Every year for more than a decade, The Parachutist, which is the official publication of the United States Parachute Association, has published an article called their "fatality summary." In the article a writer analyzes the factors contributing to parachuting deaths in the previous year.

Parachutists are classified first as students, then after twenty jumps they receive their A license. After fifty jumps, they receive their B license. After one hundred jumps their C license. After two hundred jumps, their D license.

In the 1993 fatality summary Paul Sitter points to an alarming statistic. Fifty-nine percent of all parachuting fatalities were suffered by elite jumpers, those with a D license. A graph accompanying the article shows a dramatic upward spike for fatalities among those with two hundred to one thousand jumps. The line on the graph falls again for those with more than one thousand jumps.

The lesson is clear. Just because a person is mature doesn't mean he or she is invulnerable. Is it possible that some parachutists with between two hundred and one thousand jumps got overconfident?

Overconfidence, Pride, Temptation

I Cor. 10:12; Gal. 6:1

Contemporary Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers, & Writers

Editor Craig Brian Larson, Baker Books, p. 253.

The Increase of Narcissism

Luke 9:25

“Narcissism is increasing,” concluded W. Keith Campbell, head of the department of psychology at the University of Georgia, “notably in the form of grandiose narcissism and NPD [narcissistic personality disorder].”

Campbell made those observations in a recent article for the British newspaper The Independent, titled “Are we more narcissistic than ever?” He noted that American college students in the 2000s were more likely to be narcissistic than their counterparts in the 1980s.

Narcissism, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is “an excessive self-admiration; excessive self-love; and exceptional interest in and admiration of yourself.”

Campbell, who along with Jean M. Twenge wrote the book “The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement,” believes there are three types of narcissism.

“Grandiose narcissism is the outgoing, extraverted form,” Campbell wrote in The Independent. It “starts with an inflated image of oneself. The narcissistic individual believes he or she is smarter, better looking and more important than others. And, of course, deserves special treatment for this fact.”

The second form, “vulnerable narcissism,” is “harder to see than grandiose narcissism. Vulnerable narcissists think they are entitled to special treatment ... but actually have low self-esteem and are not typically extraverted,” Campbell observed.

A vulnerable narcissist is likely to be argumentative and is a prime candidate to become an Internet troll who is hyper critical of others. The vulnerable narcissist seeks to display expertise without the risk of criticism or failure, Campbell wrote.

“The third form of narcissism occurs when narcissism is extreme and causes clinically significant problems in a person’s life -- marriages fall apart, friends are lost, a career gets derailed,” Campbell wrote.

“When this occurs narcissism can be diagnosed as a personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder (also known as NPD),” he wrote. “NPD contains a mix of both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, but researchers are still debating the ideal grandiose/vulnerable ratio.”

Few would argue with the professor concerning the prevalence of narcissism. Evidence abounds to support his conclusions.

However, the Bible first pointed out the reality that academics refer to as narcissism. Scripture used a much more succinct term to describe man’s adoration of himself: sin.

I believe the Bible goes further than psychologists and psychiatrists in describing man’s propensity for self-love. I believe it depicts men and women as addicted to self. They live for self in every way possible.

While Campbell believes narcissism is on the increase, I believe its rate of incidence has held steady for thousands of years. Indeed, every single person must contend with the siren song of self. Sin infects every person from the moment they are conceived.

But I do believe the unabashed, unashamed display of narcissism is on the rise. One reason for this is that social media has provided more outlets than ever to parade self-absorption. Self-addicted people saturate social media with constant comments, photos and videos about one thing -- themselves.

Another reason for the increased display of narcissism is that people encourage it. Parents used to discipline toddlers for their self-absorption. Now too many view self-centered behavior as cute, video it and share it via Facebook and Twitter.

What is the answer to the rising tide of narcissism in our culture? How can it be stemmed?

Socialization of toddlers can help keep narcissism in check, and we can try to ignore adults who take pride in their self-addiction. But the only remedy, according to the Bible, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

People must confess that their sin and selfishness are destructive and offensive to God. They must repent of this addiction to self, seek the forgiveness of the Lord and cry out for deliverance and change.

Jesus died on the cross to set people free from an addiction to self, which academics call narcissism. The Bible calls it sin.

*

[Original illustration at this number was deleted for being obsolete]

Guess Who's Really Moving It

Philippians 2:13

Last week, I was going through the all too frequent ritual of standing by an airport luggage carousel, waiting for Big Bertha - that's what I've named my suitcase since we spend so much time together! Suddenly the monotony was broken for all of us by this really cute scene ... try to picture this. Here comes one of those luggage carts that looks sort of like a big grocery cart without the big basket, pushing it is this very little boy, still in pampers, barely able to walk ... about one-fourth as tall as the cart.

Actually, the boy thought he was pushing the cart, actually his Daddy was right next to him with his hands on the bar above his son's head. Now, the cart was staying on a straight course, it was moving at a good speed ... and finally the little guy got frustrated because he wanted to push on the handle bar which was way over his head. So, in order to continue the illusion of "little boy pushing" Daddy picked him up, held him horizontal and let him push on the bar. But, needless to say, his father kept one hand on that cart, of course! Despite the way it looked to this little cart jockey, it was his father who was really making it happen.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "Guess Who's Really Moving It."

Now, our word for today from the Word of God is from Philippians 2:13. Here's what it says, "It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." There's the want to and the how to, and the three key words, "It is God." The funny thing is it looks like it's us doing it! You do the work for the Lord - the speaking, the music, the serving, the encouraging, the leading, and it sure looks like it's you who's living your Christian life ... saying "no" to temptation, loving people, winning some spiritual victories. But then, it looked to that little boy like he was pushing that cart too! But, it was really his father. The same with you ... the same with me.

Jesus illustrated this with a grapevine. He said that He is the vine, we are the branches. The grapes look like they're coming from the branch, right? Wrong! They're coming through the branch ... from the vine. If you don't believe it, cut off the branch and see how many grapes it produces!

Now, it's like that for us in our life in Jesus Christ. Anything you've become, anything you've done, all those spiritual victories that you've been a part of, they may look like something you did, but it wasn't really you doing something for God, it was God doing something through you. Jesus put it bluntly in His vine story. He just said, "Without Me you can do nothing." Nothing that matters, nothing that lasts, or nothing that's life-changing.

Since it's ultimately our Father who moves the cart, there are two attitudes that are just unacceptable. First, pride over any spiritual accomplishment, ability, or position. If your heart is saying, "Hey, ain't I somethin'!" after a spiritual victory, your heart is in fantasy land! The right and realistic read on it is, "Isn't God something!" Remember, it is God. Don't be a glory stealer. God says, "I am the Lord, my Glory I will not give to another." All the praise belongs to God!

But there is a second unacceptable attitude that is at the polar opposite of pride. It's a sense of inadequacy that keeps you from risking for and working for your Lord. You see, the same Lord who told us that we can do nothing without Him, teacher us to say, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13) You are inadequate. The more you realize that, the more you get out of the way and depend on the Lord to do it.

So, you can dare and work for Jesus because it's His power, His adequacy doing it anyway! "It is God who works," the verse says. See, a little boy was able to move what he could never move because of his father's strength. You can move things for the Lord that are way beyond you because of your Heavenly Father's strength. So, keep pushing the cart, keep walking, but remember that your cart will stay on course and move a heavy load because of the powerful hands above you.

________________

*

Seven Deadly Sins

Proverbs 6:16

"There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers." (Proverbs 6:16-19, NAS)

"For years it had been my policy not to correct untrue statements about me that appeared in the press. As a rule, the friends whose good opinion you value will not believe ill of you. Your enemies will believe, or profess to believe, evil of you regardless of your denial." (James Francis Byrnes)

James Byrnes had it right. Friends will usually not believe ill about you, at least until it is proven beyond a doubt, but enemies are easily persuaded of the worst evil. This is why it is usually fruitless to try to set the mind of an enemy to rest. It really doesn’t matter what you say. They already know what they know.

It is worth thinking about the words of the Proverb writer quoted earlier. The Lord hates six things, and there are seven which are an abomination to him. That’s really a way of emphasizing the terrible nature of these sins. Consider the list worded just a bit differently:

a pride-filled person;

a person who speaks lies;

a person who destroys the lives of others; [or, a violent person -H.]

a person whose heart dreams up evil;

a person who is quick to participate in evil;

a person who tells lies about other people;

a person who ignites discord and ill-will among others.

Know anyone like that?

Anything hit close to home?

No wonder God thinks of these sins as abominations. These are the things that ruin lives, end in death, and destroy the ability of someone to exist in close company with others. These sins are the ones that kill love, maim friendships, cause heartaches, create turmoil, and stir up discord. These are the sins that make life little more than a soap-opera.

It’s hard to understand how these sins get a foothold among human beings, except that it’s got to be the work of Satan who manages to enlist us into his own army and to participate in killing off our own. The sad thing is that we often we find these sins disguised in the garb of religion. Pretending to be "righteous" and concerned about doing God’s will, there are more than a few who will set out to destroy others. It must make God sick.

How can we avoid these sins?

What can we do to keep ourselves from becoming prey to this kind of evil?

I wish there was an easy answer. Surely, part of the answer is found in the kind of honest self-examination that allows us to identify any of these sins before they become too big to handle. They ought to create a fear in us that puts us on our knees, asking for God’s mercy and for the help of his Spirit so that we might resist anything that would motivate us to act out of pride, falsehood, or selfishness.

We must get control over these sins while they are "small" and before they develop into full-grown evil. These are dangerous sins. They do not bring people together. They always separate, divide, and destroy. They will ruin a person’s faith and leave him empty. Nothing good can ever come from them. Watch your words and your attitude. Be careful of your behavior regarding other people. Humility, truthfulness, kindness, love, doing good and speaking well of others are the positives of godliness. Make the effort to be that kind of person for "there are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him..."

_____________________

© Copyright 2001, Dr. Bill Denton, CrossTies, All Rights Reserved. Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

*

The Dark Side

Luke 6:46

I went out the other night and I saw this beautiful full moon rising in the eastern sky. I ran inside and said, “Honey, you need to come outside. The moon is shining so brightly tonight.” Actually, to be more accurate, I should say, “Half the moon is shining brightly tonight.” Because there's one side of the moon that enjoys the sun's rays and reflects them back to earth - and there's another side that the sun doesn't touch. Of course, that's the dark side of the moon.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Dark Side.”

Where the light doesn't shine - that's the dark side. The sad thing is that many of us have a dark side; parts of our life, our personality, our lifestyle where we don't let the light shine. The light of the S-o-n of God. And those parts, like the moon, are cold and barren - possibly hidden from everyone's view. Everyone, that is, except God.

It's an issue we might call selective Lordship, which is an oxymoron. If I get to decide which parts of my life I'm going to let Jesus have His way in, how can I call Him Lord? The Greek word for Lord - kurios - is all about who is the controller. If I'm deciding there are certain parts of me Jesus can't have, then who's in control here? I am hijacking my life from my Sovereign Lord and I'm effectively making me, His creation, the “lord” of my life.

Jesus asked a haunting question about all this in Luke 6:46, our word for today from the Word of God. He said, “Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” If you got to your room tonight and found Jesus there, He might very well ask you that question. If He did, what areas of your life do you think He'd have in mind when He said, “You're not doing what I say”?

Could it be that you're not letting His light shine on that bitterness that you're harboring? Or maybe that anger of yours is stubbornly defiant to Christ's control. Maybe the “dark side” of your “moon” is a sinful habit you won't let Jesus get you out of ... or the lust that continues to poison your heart with images and fantasies that thumb their nose at God's holiness. Pride is the sin that cost Lucifer heaven, but it's one that the Christian world will largely let you get by with uncondemned. But God hates it. Pride of position, pride of accomplishment, pride of appearance, pride of ability - they're all deep darkness that desperately needs the light of Jesus to shine on them.

Maybe your impatience is a part of you that you just won't let Jesus challenge, or your spiritual coldness, or your neglect of people who are depending on you. Maybe you're manipulative and you're a controller. Maybe there's a relationship you won't let him touch - the dark side. Dark because you will not let His light shine there. You will not let King Jesus shine His light on it and show you how ugly it is, how dirty it really is - so that you will repent of it and release it to Him so He can perform that life-transforming miracle within you that only He can do.

The parts of you where you have really let Jesus shine, think about it. Aren't they the brightest parts of you? Aren't they the most beautiful things about you - the things that now light up other people's galaxy? And the dark side has been dark and cold and barren long enough. Let the light in!

________________

*

[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #17409]

Quotes On Humility and Pride

Job 20:4

"The danger of pride is that it feeds on goodness."

-- traditional saying

"Humble people don't think less of themselves ... they just think about themselves less."

-- Norman Vincent Peale

"You can accomplish anything in life, provided that you do not mind who gets the credit."

-- Harry S. Truman, QFTM 10/25/03

"We grow small trying to be great."

-- E. Stanley Jones, QFTM 10/25/03

"None are so empty as those who are full of themselves."

-- Andrew Jackson, QFTM 2/14/04

Who Is King of the Jungle-the Lion or the Elephant?

A big, mean lion met a monkey in the jungle. The lion pounced on the poor monkey and said, "Who is king of the jungle?" The frightened monkey replied, "You are, O mighty lion." So the lion let him go. The next animal the lion met was a zebra. He pounced on it and roared, "Who is king of the jungle?" "You are, O mighty lion." So the lion let him go. The lion next met an elephant and asked the same question. The elephant grabbed the lion, twirled him around the threw him 50 feet.

The lion picked himself up and huffed, "Just because you don't know the answer is no reason to get so rough."

A Sucker or A Worker?

One day a peasant drove his sturdy ox through the village on the way to work the fields.

A flea sat on the ox's nose. At the end of the day, the ox and peasant trudged back through the village, the fields now plowed, and the flea still perched on the ox's nose.

The peasant and the ox trudged by the villages in silence. The flea, however, bowed grandly to every side, proclaiming "We've been plowing."

A Bag Tied in the Middle

A New Zealand preacher described a Pharisee as being like a bag tied in the middle. Anything put into the top will not reach the bottom.

The Pharisee opens his mouth wide when he prays, but his heart is tightly shut. With his lips he asks for things that his heart does not really desire. If God were to give him the spiritual blessings he asks for, it would only be a waste of good gifts, for they could not get to the bottom of the bag. His pride would choke them off, and they would never touch his heart.

The Superior Dress

All of us readily admit that Christianity advocates justice, equality, and opportunity for all. When it comes to practicing it, do we really mean what we preach, or are we like the little Sunday school girl who was observed by her teacher trying to move as far away as possible from the little girl next to her? They were both poor children, neatly but plainly dressed. The teacher said, "What is the matter? Why don't you sit still?" "Oh," she replied, "I have a silk dress, and she has a cotton one, and I don't want her to sit by me."

No Errands, Please!

A beggar sat at the gate of the rich man's home from whose bountiful hand he had received constant gifts.

One day the rich man wanted to send a message as quickly as possible.

Since his servants were all busy, he found the beggar and asked him to make the delivery for him. Lifting himself up with pride, the beggar answered his benefactor with these astonishing words, "I solicit alms, sir, but I do not run errands."

How many people treat their heavenly Father in this manner! If it were not for Him we would not have the many blessings which come from His hands. Then, when He wants us to go on an errand, or to carry a message of Jesus' love to wayward men, we say, "No, Lord; I solicit your blessings, but I do not run errands."

Would You Hesitate to Ask?

I heard the other day about a roomful of doctors eating together. One doctor got up from the table, left the room, and in minutes he was dead. A morsel of food had lodged in his windpipe, and so he choked to death.

The tragedy of this incident is heightened by the fact that probably any one of those doctors could have performed the Heimlich Maneuver or, if need be, a tracheotomy to restore his breathing. But they did not know anything was wrong-he did not tell them. He just got up and left. And so he died.

Have you been keeping a problem to yourself that is about to get you down? Why not share it with at least one of your fellow Christians? Do not let false pride keep you from saying, "I need help." We all do.

More Important Than the Sun?

It only takes a fifty-cent piece held close to your eye to blind you to the sight of the sun. Alexander the Great, full of pride over his recent triumphs, once came upon that wise philosopher Diogenes who was basking in the glory of the noonday sun. The powerful Alexander condescended to speak to the philosopher, asking if there was anything he could do for Diogenes. "Yes," was the reply. "Alexander can step aside from between me and the sunshine." Diogenes was wise in this respect. Alexander was great in conquest, but he was a fool to think he was more important to Diogenes than the sun.

The Showpiece

A woman came into a milliner's store and wanted to have the trimming on her new hat changed, saying it had been placed on the wrong side.

"But," said the saleslady, "the trimming is on the left side. That is where it ought to be." "It doesn't make any difference where it ought to be; it's got to be on the church side." "Church side!" gasped the astonished girl. "Yes, I sit next to the wall. I want it on the other side so the whole congregation can see it."

The Proud Banker

A very richly dressed man stepped into a streetcar and with a haughty air sat down beside an old man who was poorly clad. When the conductor collected the fares he said to him in a loud voice, "Let me off at my bank." Evidently knowing him, the conductor assured him he would do so. Then he reached for the fare of the poorly clothed man next to him. He evidently was just as well known to the conductor as the banker, and so he said, "Please let me off at my peanut-stand, will you, Mister?" "Yes, George," was the distinct but kindly reply. The proud man didn't smile, but all the other passengers seemed suddenly possessed with unusual cheerfulness. This rich man had a right and a duty to dress in keeping with his station; he was not sinful because he owned a bank; but it was definitely wrong for him to seek to impress others with his importance. Instead he earned their ridicule.

The Futility of Pride

Acts 2:47

"When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2). "Only by pride cometh contentions" (Proverbs 13:10). In the book of Proverbs, pride is used in two senses. (1) The good sense. In this sense, it is admirable and necessary. It is associated with self-respect and personal dignity. However, we must always avoid self-contempt. "I am a nobody" is not a way to gain respect from others. Acts 2:47 shows us that it is alright to have respect from other people. This kind of pride is acceptable.

(2) The bad sense is associated with arrogance, self-esteem, self-importance, and all such similar vices. Webster defines it this way: The quality or state of being proud: as inordinate self-esteem: conceit. Let us keep pride as God wants it. The chin and head up, not our nose. The pride of life is a channel by which Satan tempts man to sin (1 John 2:15-17).

In John 13 we find the disciples would not wash one another's feet because it would show they were inferior and forfeit their position in the kingdom. Christ deflated their egos and pride by washing their feet, showing that He was the greatest of all and serves all. We see a lot of people in the church today fighting for the top, but very few reach for towels. There are many today that pride destroys. It kept Felix from obeying the gospel (Acts 24:25). It also cost Ananias and Sapphira their lives.

Matthew 5:3 says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We must be willing to assume the role of beggar to enter the kingdom of heaven. Pride will cause us not to admit wrong or have compassion on our fellow man. It will cause us to live beyond our means (Romans 13:8). Pride leads to rebellion (Psalm 10:4); also apostasy (1 Timothy 3:6). "He who stands on a pedestal has no place but to step off"-a Chinese proverb.

That Isn't Sin

Paul is telling the Corinthians that he who adds to the Scriptures is likely to be a proud and arrogant person, one who looks down upon others because they lack his abilities. He is in the same class as the young girl who went to her priest and confessed her sin of vanity.

"What makes you think that?" asked the priest. "Because every morning, when I look into the mirror," she replied, "I think how beautiful I am." "Don't worry" said the priest, "that isn't sin; that's just a mistake." How true it is that those who are the proudest in their assumption of the right to think and act above what is written are the most mistaken. They need to humbly accept what God says of them in His Word.

The Wrong Person's In Front

John 3:30

Before videos and DVDs there was a primitive form of media known as Super 8 movies. And that was the medium on which we were able to capture many memories as our kids were growing up. Which was a great improvement over what my parents had to record memories when I was growing up - a chisel and a stone tablet. Now, our three children all enjoyed being in the movies, but one of them enjoyed it a little too much. And, no, I'm not about to tell you which one. But this child loved the camera, so much that it didn't matter whose birthday we were filming or what activity, this same little face kept popping up right in front of the camera, effectively blocking out anyone else who might be in the picture.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Wrong Person's in Front!”

If it's Louie's birthday (that's not the name of anyone in our family). then Max shouldn't be pushing himself in front and making himself the self-appointed star of a movie that's supposed to be about someone else. It's really not cute and it really messes up the picture. Just ask God. People have been doing that to Him for a long time.

At least as long ago as the infamous Tower of Babel, where we find our word for today from the Word of God. It's in Genesis 11, beginning with verse 4 where “they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves...” A name for ourselves - that's one of our favorite things to make, isn't it. The Bible goes on to say, “But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building ... The Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel - because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world.”

The tower might as well have been in the shape of a raised, clenched fist. They were saying, “We're going to be the stars here. We want to be important. So we're going to build something that will show everybody, even God, how really important we are.” And God responded with serious judgment.

This is a vivid picture of a lesson that we all need to remember - the deadly sin of self-importance. It was the beginning of the end for Saul, the Jewish king who started with such promise and a desire to put God out in front. The Bible puts it this way: “He has set up a monument in his own honor” (1 Samuel 15:12). That's a sin which many of us could be guilty of. Honestly, could it be that you've been spending a lot of energy promoting yourself? Pushing to be in front? Trying to make a name for yourself, and maybe even using the work of Christ to do it? Could it be that you've really been building your own kingdom more than His kingdom? That's dangerous ground. Just ask the people at the Tower of Babel.

The word “sin” and the word “pride” have the same middle letter - “I.” Pride cost Lucifer his place in heaven. Pride is always expensive. God will not tolerate it. He hates pride and self-promotion. There's only one Name we should be drawing attention to - the name of Jesus. The only Star in God's constellation - His name is Jesus, and there's only one kingdom to be building with our time and money and it's the kingdom of Jesus.

It's natural to push ourselves to the front, but it's wrong. And maybe, without realizing it, that's what you've started to do. From Babel to your life and mine, self-importance and self-promotion are sins that God just won't tolerate. “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). If the wrong person's out in front, rearrange the picture. You and I are the background for an awesome Savior. He's the foreground! He's the only star!

__________

*

Surf's Up! : Climate Change and Hubris

Job 9:2

As the story goes, the courtiers of the 11th-century Anglo-Scandinavian king, Canute, told him that he was “so great, he could command the tides of the sea to go back.”

Knowing that this was nonsense, Canute, a pious Christian, had his throne moved to the beach. As the waves came in, he commanded them to desist. When the waves paid him no mind, he proclaimed, “Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings. For there is none worthy of the name but God, whom heaven, earth and sea obey.”

Twenty-first century governmental leaders could learn a lot from this 11th-century Viking king.

At the recent G8 summit, the leaders of the world’s largest industrialized economies agreed to stop the world from getting too warm. Really. In their communique, they said that “the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2 degrees [Celsius].” Or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Just like it’s one thing to command the waves the desist and another to literally stem the tide, saying that temperatures ought not to rise and actually making that happen are entirely different matters.

By way of making that happen, the G8 communique calls for the 32 industrialized nations to cut CO2 emissions 80 percent by 2050. As you no doubt realize, 32 nations are more than 8 nations. That means that the G8’s plans to limit the world’s temperatures require that other countries join them in standing athwart the climate and saying, “Go back!”

Or, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel put it, “even if all G8 countries cut their emissions, we will not meet the 2 degree goal without the emerging economies.”

And the problem is that the emerging economies like China, India, and Brazil have no interest in yelling, “Go back!” Brazilian president Lula spoke for many when he said, “We don’t want to continue to be second-class citizens. We want to go to the top floor.” For that matter, Russia, a member of the G8, has said that it won’t “sacrifice economic growth for the sake of emission reduction.”

Nobody knows how, or even if, the kind of cuts being discussed can be made without sacrificing economic growth.

What is certain is that simply declaring that the world shouldn’t warm up more than we want won’t magically solve the technical and economic challenges.

To be fair, not everything about the pronouncement was Canute-like. For one thing, I am fairly certain that nobody was seated on a throne when the communique was released.

But while the Viking king knew the limits of his authority and competence, the hubris of world leaders today, in contrast, has us imagining that we can control the weather. As the G8 was setting the global thermostat, Bill Gates and others claimed to have developed a technology that suppresses hurricanes. I’m serious.

It isn’t only the weather. We also speak about “directing our evolution” through biotechnology. Our confidence in our ability to control nature knows no bounds.

Eventually, the tide will come in. Let’s pray that it’s only our vanity that gets washed away.

________

*

[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #7649]

When We Become God

Proverbs 16:17

When We Become “God”

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (v. 18)

— For reading & meditation: Proverbs 16:17-25

Another issue in today’s Church which makes the need for revival urgent is unconscious self-dependence. I say “unconscious” because most Christians do not know they have this attitude — but they do, nevertheless. This is how it develops: we learn ways of doing things for God that make us feel good. At first, the more important thing is not the feelings we get but the significance of the task in which we are engaged. Gradually, however, we become preoccupied with the good feelings that our actions give us and the significance of what we are doing takes second place. Subtly the tables have been turned — we have moved from depending on God for our significance to depending on the good feelings we get from what we are doing.

Can you see the danger in this? And whatever we depend upon to hold our lives together and make them work — that is our god. So it can be said that when self-dependence rules our hearts then we become god.

Revival would change all this. In times of great spiritual awakening unconscious motives are brought into consciousness and men and women see themselves as they really are. The proud become humble, the arrogant become unassuming, and the self-dependent become God-dependent. One of the most difficult tasks of a Christian counselor is to help people realize how they are hiding behind the defense mechanism of denial and come out from behind it. It sometimes takes months, even years, to get that point across. In revival God does it in one fell swoop.

PRAYER:

Gracious and loving heavenly Father, I don’t want to wait for a revival in order that I might become a more real and aware person. You have my permission to do it this hour. Give me my own personal revival – today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Psalm 139:13-24; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Jeremiah 17:10

1. What was the psalmist’s prayer?

2. What were David’s words to Solomon?

Themes In Proverbs: Pride

Proverbs 30:11

Themes in Proverbs: Pride

Verses shown are New American Standard version; look at them in your Bible

« Leader's notes shown in these braces »

A. 6:16–19 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

1. why is this matter of pride (haughty eyes) shown first in this list of abominable things in the sight of God?

a. «it seems to have been the original sin (Satan’s) and easily leads to all the others.»

2. Pride forms an element in another list found in Proverbs 30:11–14: 30:11 There is a kind of man who curses his father, And does not bless his mother. 12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness. 13 There is a kind — oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance. 14 There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords, And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth, And the needy from among men. For most of those people listed what does their attitude commonly reflect?

a. «self-satisfaction, self-love»

b. «self-pleasing, disregard of others»

B. 21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

1. pride here is called “The lamp of the wicked” … what does it mean?« I cannot determine why AV translates it “plowing of the wicked.” Pride, not God, guides such people in every aspect of their life. »

2. what is the lamp of the righteous, and its result? «Pr 13:9, Ps 119:105»

C. 16:18-19 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honour. 29:23 A man’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honour. 15:25 The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

pride is associated with destruction; why?

«it brings a person under God’s judgment»

«it prevents a person from seeing dangers and avoiding them»

why is the widow brought into this discussion? «The proud ignores her»

11:2 When pride comes, then comes dishonour, But with the humble is wisdom.

what is one form of destruction? « Dishonour (by God) see also 29:23.»

21:24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names, Who acts with insolent pride. 13:10 Through presumption comes nothing but strife, But with those who receive counsel is wisdom.

in what ways does pride breed quarrels, contention or strife?

«being self-centred it ignores other’s needs, words, concerns»

to what is pride deaf?

«counsel, wisdom … especially the wisdom that comes from God»

Gold Or Miracles

Luke 12:15

Thomas Aquinas was invited to visit Pope Innocent II. Like King Hezekiah in the Old Testament, the Pope showed off the Vatican treasures. He bragged, “You see, brother Thomas, we can no longer say as Peter said, ‘Silver and Gold have I none.’”

Fixing the Pope with an icy gaze, Aquinas said, “No, but neither can you say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!’”

*

Arrange Ovation [2 versions]

Mark 11:1

Gloria Swanson is one of Hollywood's great legendary actresses. Her career spanned the 1920s to the early 1950s. She remained on top because of her great ambition. Early in her career, Swanson was quoted as saying, “I have gone through enough of being a nobody. Now that I am a star, I will be every inch and every moment a star!” And you can bet that everybody around her knew that - from the studio gate man to the highest executive.

She is reported to have been impossible to work with. One time, before returning from a trip to France, Swanson sent a telegraph to her film studio informing them that she expected a grand welcome when she got home. The telegram read: “Arriving tomorrow from Paris. Stop. Arrange ovation.”

Well, the studio knew better than to argue with her. When she arrived in Los Angeles, a large crowd of her fans and the press were there to greet her.

====================================================

Another version from King Duncan's Collected Sermons:

Gloria Swanson was one of Hollywood’s top actresses from the 1920s to the 1950s. She was quite ambitious. Early in her career, Swanson was quoted as saying, “I have gone through enough of being a nobody. I have decided that when I am a star, I will be every inch and every moment the star! Everybody from the studio gate man to the highest executive will know it.” And Swanson made sure of that. Before returning from a trip to France, Gloria Swanson sent a telegram to her film studio informing them that she expected a grand welcome when she arrived in California. To quote the telegram:

“Arriving with the Marquis tomorrow morning. Stop.

Please arrange ovation.” (1)

The studio knew enough not to argue with Swanson. An ovation was duly arranged.

Impartiality, Pride, Revenge, Honesty

Romans 12:16

”Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.” (Romans 12:16-17 NKJV)

Impartiality, Pride, Revenge, Honesty

• same mind — Rom 15:5-6, 1 Cor 1:10, Phil 1:27, 2:2, 4:2, 1 Pet 3:8 — the same hospitable, kind, sympathising mind; even in temper, impartial in treatment

• mind…things — Matt 20:26-28, Phil 2:3-8, Jer 45:5, Psalm 131:1-2, Jam 2:1-5 — do not seek especial favour of rich alone. Be not proud, ambitious

• condescend {associate…humble} — come down in conduct, speech

• men…estate {humble} — to the poor or illiterate, that you may lift them up

• be…conceits {opinion} — Prov 3:7, 26:12, Isa 5:21, 1 Cor 8:2, 3:18-20 — those who are puffed up with an opinion of their own wisdom are apt to despise instruction

• recompense {repay}…evil — guard against spirit of retaliation

• provide…honest {have…things} — 1 Tim 5:14, 1 Pet 2:12-13 — Gk., premeditate things comely — “The meaning of the precept is, that we should, by proper consideration, take care to render our actions beautiful and good, even in the eyes of men” (Macknight).

• in…men — to encourage the good, and silence gainsayers

Be not wise in your own conceits — Bp Beveridge

I. As to rational wisdom or knowledge. Knowledge of –

1. Natural causes;

2. Future events;

3. God’s providences;

4. The intrigues of State;

5. The spiritual estate of others;

6. The interpretation of Scripture.

II. As to practical wisdom. We must not conceit ourselves –

1. To be saints;

2. To be holier than others;

3. That we perform duties aright;

4. That we exercise graces aright.

Application:

1. Have low thoughts of your own knowledge;

2. Oft consult your own hearts;

3. Compare your actions with God’s laws;

4. Labour to know more of God and of Christ.

Retaliation — During the revolutionary war lived Peter Miller, the leading member of a humble community of Baptists located in the state of Pennsylvania. In this community lived a man who distinguished himself for very base conduct towards the society to which Mr. Miller belonged, and treason to his country. On the latter charge he was sentenced to death. No sooner was the sentence pronounced than Peter Miller set out on foot to visit General Washington, at Philadelphia, to intercede for the man’s life. But he was told his prayer could not be granted “for his unfortunate friend.” “My friend!” exclaimed Miller, “I have not a worse enemy living than that same man.” “What,” rejoined Washington, “you have walked sixty miles to save the life of your enemy? That in my judgment puts the matter in a different light; I will grant you his pardon.” The pardon was made out, and, without losing a moment’s delay, Miller proceeded on foot to a place fifteen miles distant, where the execution was to take place on the afternoon of the same day. He arrived just as the man was being conducted to the scaffold, who, seeing Miller in the crowd, remarked, “There is old Peter Miller; he has walked all the way from Ephrata to have his revenge gratified today by seeing me hung.” These words had scarcely been spokrn, when he was made acquainted with the very different nature of Miller’s visit, and that his life was spared. — Family Treasures [see HolwickID #1862]

“It is not possible to preserve peace, when we cannot do it without offending God, and wounding conscience. Peace without purity is the peace of the devils palace.” — Henry

“To be deprived of the person we love is a happiness in comparison of living with one we hate.” — La Bruyère

Balloons and Buildings

Isaiah 5:21

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes. –Isaiah 5:21

Imagine making a decision that is based on your convictions but which would totally ruin your social life. No more invitations from non-Christian friends. Even family get-togethers and company picnics would be out of the question.

That was the decision facing the Christians at Corinth. The issue: eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.

What, you thought it was just a matter of switching supermarkets? At Corinth, if you bought meat at any store, there was a good chance it had been used in pagan sacrifice. Sure, the believers could go vegetarian or stick to fish and chicken. That wasn’t the problem.

But if they went to a friend’s house for dinner, or to a restaurant, they risked violating their consciences. And Corinth had plenty of “brainiac” believers on both sides of the issue, people who were well-versed in the teachings of Scripture and more than happy to point out their blunders.

We face choices a lot like the Corinthians did. Tough choices can limit our contact with nonbelievers. As we struggle with these issues, we may receive counsel from Christians who seem more interested in sharing their own knowledge than in helping us deal with the problems.

The same kind of folks hung out in Corinth too. That’s why Paul started his teaching on eating meat sacrificed to idols with an important overriding principle: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Before we approach such debates, we must make sure our hearts are in the right place, even if we’re confident of our heads. Right head + Wrong heart = Wrong answer.

As Christians, we don’t need a church full of balloons, puffed up and ready to pop their hot air. Instead, we need a church where everyone builds everyone else up. Anything less just wouldn’t be smart. Oh, sure, we might sound all intellectual and everything, but remember — you can’t hang much on hot air. — JC

REFLECTION

• Why do some Christians rely on knowledge more than on love in dealing with certain situations?

• Which of my friends is facing a tough situation right now? What can I do?

• Lord, sometimes pride takes over, and I approach tough situations by seeking to puff myself up. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that I may show Your love in helping my friends.

• Right head + right heart = right answer.

The Warning Against Wantoning

Luke 10:20

As Christian workers, worldliness is not our snare, sin is not our snare, but spiritual wantoning is, viz.: taking the pattern and print of the religious age we live in, making eyes at spiritual success. Never court anything other than the approval of God, go “without the camp, bearing His reproach.” Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have the commercial view - so many souls saved and sanctified, thank God, now it is all right. Our work begins where God's grace has laid the foundation; we are not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God. One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit. As workers for God we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and that will be God's witness to us as workers. God brings us to a standard of life by His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that standard in others.

Unless the worker lives a life hidden with Christ in God, he is apt to become an irritating dictator instead of an indwelling disciple. Many of us are dictators, we dictate to people and to meetings. Jesus never dictates to us in that way. Whenever Our Lord talked about discipleship, He always prefaced it with an “IF,” never with an emphatic assertion - “You must.” Discipleship carries an option with it.

*

[Original illustration here was a duplicate in HolwickID 25837-26027]

The Pitfalls of Pride

”Conceit is the quicksand of success.” — Arnold Glasow

“The bigger a man’s head gets, the easier it is to fill his shoes.” — Henry A. Courtney

“There are no mistakes so great as that of being always right.” — Samuel Butler

The Pride of Life

Genesis 3:5

The third channel of temptation is at the heart of the New Age Movement: the temptation to direct our own destiny, to rule our own world, to be our own god. Satan tantalized Eve concerning the forbidden fruit: “The day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Satan's offer was an exaggerated appeal to our God-instilled propensity to rule. “Don't be satisfied ruling under God,” he seemed to say, “when you have the potential to be like God.” When Eve was convinced that “the tree was desirable to make one wise” (verse 6), she and Adam ate.

Satan's promise that the couple would become like God was nothing more than a lie. When Adam and Eve yielded to his temptation, they didn't become the gods of this world as he claimed they would. Instead, they fell from their position of rulership with God, and Satan became the god of this world by default -- exactly as he had planned.

Satan tried the same ploy with Jesus: “All [the kingdoms of the world and their glory] will I give You, if You fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). When you think about it, Satan's offer was pretty ridiculous. Why would Jesus be tempted to worship Satan in exchange for the world when He already owned the universe? So He replied, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only'“ (verse 10).

The temptation of the pride of life is intended to steer us away from the worship of God and destroy our obedience to God by urging us to become our own god. Whenever you feel that you don't need God's help or direction, that you can handle your life without consulting Him, that you don't need to bow the knee to anyone, beware: That's the pride of life. Whenever you stop worshipping and serving God, you are in reality worshipping and serving Satan -- which is what he wants more than anything else. Instead, your life should be characterized by worshipful humility and obedience to God (1 Peter 5:5-11; John 15:8-10).

Father, help me resist the temptation to be more than You have called me to be when I wrongfully assume Your role as captain of my soul.

Sorrows For the Self-righteous

Luke 11:37

Luke 11:37–54 — Sorrows for the Self-Righteous « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. Lunch with the Pharisee, Luke 11:37–38 (NKJV): 37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine {have breakfast or lunch} with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that He had not first washed {Greek: baptizo, “dip”} before dinner.

1. the Pharisees surprise, and implied criticism, is not a first here. Look at Mark 7:2–5.

a. the washing was not a matter of H_________ « hygiene »

b. what was the nature of this washing

(A) it was a « matter of tradition »

(B) it had to be « carried out in a specific fashion »

(C) it had to do with « ceremonial, not real, cleansing »

2. this passage uses the word “Woe” six times. The word woe is ouai (pronounced “way”) in the Greek and corresponds to the Hebrew hoy or ‘oy (as in the current Jewish, “oy vay”). It could equally well be rendered “Alas”. It indicates sorrow, distress or even indignation; so Jesus is not pronouncing a curse upon these men, nor showing vindictiveness, but regret in much the same fashion as He wept over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37). In Matthew 23, on Tuesday of the Passion Week, the Lord Jesus repeats many of the pronouncements made in this passage.

B. The sorrow for their external only cleansing, Luke 11:39–41 (NKJV): 39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. 40 Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 “But rather give alms of such things as you have {the things within} ; then indeed all things are clean to you.”

1. the word “woe” is not used here, but the tone is one of sadness from the Saviour of men to those who seek salvation in works

2. what does Jesus say is the problem with the Pharisees’ practice (see also Mark 7:6–9)

a. « it changed only externals, it didn’t affect the heart »

b. « it was lip worship only, not from the heart (Isaiah 29:13) »

c. « it was based on commandments of men »

d. « the same people rejected the commandment of God »

3. the word “foolish” literally means without thought (not related to the word “fool” in Matthew 5:22); what did Jesus say they should have realized if they had just thought about it?

a. « God made us, both our outward form and our inward being and He is concerned with what is in us just as much — more!! — as what we show on the outside. What was It that made God choose David? “Man looketh on the outside, but God looketh on the heart” »

4. What did Jesus say they should do to correct their inside being? Why do you think He chose this particular item?

a. « alms (giving to the poor) »

b. « to help them overcome their greed (see Matthew 23:14 for an example); when the Pharisees gave it was all external show … it needed to be given from the heart, “from within” »

5. Look at Mark 7:10–13. « The Pharisees had worked out a way that one could have his cake and eat it to. To free a person from the obligation to parents, they could declare all of their property “Corban” or dedicated to the temple, but then live off that property in comfort all their lives. » After this He explains, first to the multitude (7:14–16) and then to His disciples (7:17–23) what the real problem was.

a. what is the effect of not going through the ceremonial rites of cleansing? « Nothing; the body purifies the food eaten »

b. Where did Jesus say that evil originates? « In man’s heart »

c. Is any significant wickedness excluded from this truth?

C. The sorrow for their shallow religion, Luke 11:42 (NKJV): 42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

1. read the similar Passion Week saying, Matthew 23:23–24

2. “rue” is a evergreen shrub whose bitter leaves were once used in medicine and was specifically exempted from the tithe by the Mishnah (Shebiith 9:1); what is the one notable thing about mint? « — it spreads without cultivation or need for care »

a. on what did the Pharisees worship centre? « — on the small, unimportant things »

b. in so doing, what did the Pharisees neglect? « – justice (love of man), love of God, mercy, faith »

3. note that Jesus does not say they shouldn’t have done the small things (”straining at the gnats”) but that … « they paid attention to them while excluding the important (”swallowing a camel”) »

D. The sorrow for their mere religious show: Luke 11:43 (NKJV): 43 “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.

1. read the similar Passion Week saying, Matthew 23:6–12

2. what were the things that were important to these religious leaders

a. prominence in the synagogue, at feasts « — honour »

b. recognition in society « — respect »

c. John 12:42–43 « — the praise of men rather than of God »

E. The sorrow for their dead religion, Luke 11:44 (NKJV): 44 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”

1. Numbers 19:16; what happened to someone who touched a grave? « — they were ceremonially unclean for seven days »

2. what was the danger of coming in contact with the teaching of the Pharisees? « — they were unsuspected sources of defilement »

3. read the related Passion Week saying, Matthew 23:27–28; in this the Pharisees were not only hidden as graves but also they were disguised as … « something beautiful »

a. for this reason they show themselves to be … « hypocrites »

F. The sorrow for their false teaching of works, Luke 11:45–46 (NKJV): 45 Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.” 46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”

1. this lawyer was really sharp; after only about three years of Jesus teaching, he caught on that it was a reproach to his own life and conduct! Scribes and lawyers are alternate names for the same people, those who studied and applied the law and traditions; the Pharisees were a different but partially overlapping group who main interest was in maintaining pure religious practices.

2. read the similar passage in Matthew 23:2–5

a. what authority and responsibility did the scribes and the Pharisees have? « — to teach the Old Testament and more specifically the law of Moses »

b. what were the disciples to do about this authority? « — to obey their teaching of the law but not their practice »

3. however, what was the character of the way they exercised their authority? « — it went beyond the law; it was impossible to obey; with the Pharisees it was “do as I say, not as I do” »

G. The sorrow for their injustice, Luke 11:47–51 (NKJV): 47 “Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.”

1. the similar Passion Week statement is in Matthew 23:29–36

2. what interesting fact do we discover about the prophets and apostles in these verses? « — Abel is counted among their number and the first to be martyred. » Which implies? « — God started proclaiming His message of salvation right from the Fall »

H. The sorrow of misleading true seekers, Luke 11:52 (NKJV): 52 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

1. read the related Passion Week statement, Matthew 23:15

2. describe the attitude in which they exercised their authority « — “dog in the manger” … preventing others from the truth »

I. The response of the recalcitrant (stubbornly defiant, unrepentant, set in their ways), Luke 11:53–54 (NKJV): 53 And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54 lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.

1. what was their proper response to Christ’s words? « — repentance »

2. what words of Christ did they prove true by their actions? « — they were like their fathers who had persecuted the prophets, for it was they who plotted the crucifixion of the Prophet » «

Some of these references and notes from Leon Morris’ commentary on Luke, the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries »

The Unsinkable Myth

Matthew 18:2

I wasn't really planning to watch anything on TV the other night except the news, but I got hooked by a program that followed. It was this fascinating special on the Titanic, including an interview with one of the survivors. She was just a little girl that awful night when the ship they swore was unsinkable went down in the icy waters of the Atlantic. Over 1,500 passengers died that night. The Titanic had been constructed with these watertight compartments in their hull that were supposed to contain any flooding. She left England in April of 1912, traveling, according to some, at speeds and at a time that the Titanic never should have been traveling. But remember, the Titanic was unsinkable. Right? Until it hit that iceberg. Actually it only scraped the iceberg. Most passengers never even knew about it, but that simple scrape had left a deep hole in the hull below the water line. For a while no one knew how much danger they were in. But within a relatively short time the unsinkable ship was gone. The man who had designed it went down with the ship. This crusty old survivor summed up her lifetime reflections on the Titanic in just a few haunting words. She just said, “It was a monument to human arrogance.”

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Unsinkable Myth.”

Human arrogance - it sinks more than ships. Pride has cost many people their eternity. Our word for today from the Word of God, Matthew 18:2. “(Jesus) called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” That's pretty sobering. If you can't become humble and dependent, you'll never see heaven! Why? A lot of us are human Titanics steaming along through life feeling unsinkable. Our motto is, “I can handle it.” We think that spirit of independence and self-effort will somehow also help us make it with God. See, that's a tragic miscalculation. My evaluation of me doesn't matter. I'm not the Judge - only God's matters.

Here's what He says in Romans 3:10. “There is no one righteous, not one ... every mouth will be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” No one will be declared righteous in His sight. We're sailing right for an iceberg called the judgment of God and we're not ready. We're counting on being unsinkable but we're headed for an eternal tragedy.

Jesus said pride would keep people out of heaven - religious pride, family pride, image pride. He said we needed to become like a little child who willingly admits that he can't make it without outside help. That's why Jesus came. The Bible says, “When we were still powerless Christ died for the ungodly. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That eternal death penalty can only be paid by someone dying. And in Jesus' awesome love that's what He did for you. Realizing you had nothing you could contribute to your own rescue. You have to just bow at His cross and say, “Jesus, you're my only hope.” If you've never done that, you can prepare for eternity now by telling Him that this very day.

I pray this will be the day you surrender to Him, because pride cost people their lives. It did that night on the Titanic. Don't let it cost you heaven. Open your heart to Jesus today. Only He is unsinkable, and you can belong to Him.

________

*

The Tolerance of God

Romans 5:10

National Public Radio recently reported the winner of an invention known to most people in the world of technology. At the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, the karaoke machine was the honor. As said at the ceremony, the karaoke machine provided “an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other.”

For anyone who has listened to some karaoke performances, the humorous statement is quite fitting. Yet at the same time, there is something thought-provoking about tolerance when listening to average folks trying to imitate digitally mastered professionals. Though the singing may be off key and out of sync, people learn to enjoy one another in spite of their singing abilities.

I have often thought about the tolerance of God and how far He goes to sit through the ridiculousness of humanity. He humorously allows donkeys to speak to prophets and whales to swallow prophets, all in the name of turning renegades to obedience. However, God's work of tolerance is not always a humorous picture.

Think of Jezebel for a moment. She is one of the most wicked characters in the Old Testament, threatening God's people, invoking Baal-worship, killing the prophets. God testified through the mouth of Elijah that Jezebel would die an ugly death. But He postpones the judgment.

Ahab died just one chapter after his death was prophesied by Elijah. But for Jezebel, Ahab's wife, she outlives two more kings and remains alive through ten more chapters. Why does God wait so long before bringing the impending judgment? And what must it have been like for Jezebel to await her judgment those many years, like waiting for the hangman to come? Did she believe Elijah's prophecy? Did she care?

Baal worship and wickedness continued in the lives of Ahab and Jezebel's descendents until Jehu arrives as conqueror. But why does God wait so long?

My suspicion is that even Jezebel was given opportunity to turn to the one true God. Growing up in a nation of Baal worshipers, whose father was named after Baal, God may have spared her life simply so she could see the goodness of the Lord. Only God knows any potential turning in her heart. Only God knows what events He brought to her, even in small ways, to reveal Himself. But her heart was hard and, when her appointment came, she died a gruesome death. When I think along these lines, I sit in the silence and ponder Jezebel in my own heart. What kinds of selfish treacheries of Jezebel am I capable of, even today? What kind of pride, envy, lust, greed, and idolatry lurk deep within me?

The apostle Paul tells us that we are enemies of God without Christ (Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:21) Simply avoiding God is idolatry and a vicious rebellion. But turning to Christ we are clothed in righteousness so that, when the gavel of God's judgment falls, Christ takes our wickedness upon himself. I am righteous before God in the judicial court of heaven. But that is not all! I long, not only to be declared righteous, but to become righteous. I want to be no longer capable of Jezebel-like treachery.

Again, our Advocate rises on our behalf. Through the Holy Spirit and our cooperation with Him, God's love and tolerance go deep to redeem us down to the bottom of our souls.

________

*

I Thought I Was God

Luke 12:16

Comedian Steve Harvey shares this true story: A friend of his was connected in business to a very wealthy man. The wealthy guy had a $4 million yacht but he never thought about God. He stood out on the tip of his boat out in the Gulf of Mexico and said, “I am God.” And a bolt of lightning killed him just like that. He died on the bow of his boat.

*

Palm Sunday's Praise Wasn't For the Donkey

Mark 11:1

A few years ago, in a press conference following a ceremony in which Corrie ten Boom was given an honorary degree, one of the reporters asked her if it was difficult remaining humble while hearing so much acclaim. She replied immediately, “Young man, when Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments in the road and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?”

She continued, “If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in his glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor.”

The Chosen

1 Corinthians 1:30

The world has always been enamored with the importance of appearances. We love power, truly exult over prestige, and fawn over those with a high or noted position. The annual Hollywood Oscars ceremony and the ever-multiplying spin-offs of the event are a case in point. As one social observer notes, “Celebrities are those who are well known for their well known-ness.” Endless hours are invested in analyzing every detail of the happenings and the who's who on the red carpet. What are people wearing? How glamorous are they? Who are they with? We are so immersed in these topics, which are given such serious attention and focus, that the sheer banality and vacuity often escapes us.

Perhaps the ultimate contrast to the world's chosen is God's choice of messengers. Would you have chosen Moses? Would you have chosen the twelve disciples? You can almost hear the crowd, the cultured despisers, responding to the likes of Hosea, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist: “Who, them? You must be joking!”

The life of Jonah is a great case study for how even a professional prophet could get things so wrong in terms of understanding God. How often, and how tritely, we invoke the truth that “God’s ways are not our ways,” while often simultaneously operating as if we have it all figured out. Like Jonah, we often feel we know exactly what should happen in any given situation, and are more than ready to offer advice, correction, or input. The frequency with which Jonah got it wrong, the people of Israel got it wrong, and we continue to get it wrong, should demand a measure of humility and introspection. What does God see in the lives of those He calls?

In his letter to the Corinthians, and throughout many of his writings, the apostle Paul seeks to unpack the mystery of God's workings and to show that God's ways are truly other than what is considered the norm. He brings home not only the surprising content of the message and the unusual choice of the messengers, but more importantly the unconventional way that God works. Paul does not really say anything about why God chooses as He does, but simply that He does so: “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord'“ (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

To be a follower of Christ demands independent and courageous thinking and acting. It is often to go against the flow, to stand in an opposing manner, to resist what is the wisdom of the crowd. Paul's reminder of the basis upon which God chooses should disabuse us of our conceit, pride, or self-elevation. For his choosing is not based on our credentials or qualifications but solely and centrally on Christ's. Hence, as Francis Schaeffer used to say, “There are no little people” in God's eyes. We are all sinners saved by, and dependent on, grace. We need to constantly lay hold of what has been done for us and learn to rest in God’s provision, keeping, and care. And we can rejoice even today, that God has deliberately, with full knowledge, and with real intention, chosen such as us.

________

*

The Enormous Obstacle: Protecting Against Pride

Acts 26:28

Our mission here at “BreakPoint” is to equip people to think Christianly about all of life, to develop a strong biblical worldview that we can defend in the marketplace of ideas. This is an urgent need, because our faith is so often privatized. But it does present risks.

Let me illustrate by telling you about a man I met at a Christian retreat a few years ago. We had a very interesting discussion about history and theology. I was impressed by how much he knew and all the arguments for Christianity that he had mastered. Then he told me something that nearly made me fall off the chair. He said he was glad his wife had brought him to the retreat, because she was the believer in the family — he wasn't.

After I recovered my composure, he explained. He had professed faith in Christ in his youth, but at college he began to study philosophy and science and couldn't reconcile what he was taught with the faith of his childhood. This led to deep doubts.

So he started studying theology, history, and philosophy. He had read many of the books that I've relied on for developing my intellectual understanding of the Christian faith. And he came to realize that Christianity is true — but he was never able to recover his personal faith.

What hung him up? As he spoke, I remembered an experience I'd had. I've worked hard for years to develop a biblical worldview, and I have come to the conclusion that it is the only rational explanation of the universe. One day I realized I could prove God exists. But then in my quiet time it occurred to me that I couldn't prove that when this life is over, I'll see Him.

It wasn't so much a crisis of faith as one of understanding. I had gained so much knowledge about the strength of the biblical worldview that I figured I could rationally answer every question. But of course, I couldn't — no one can.

This bothered me for a few weeks until I realized the problem. Pride, which was my original obstacle to becoming a Christian, was in the way again. I knew so much, but faith, you see, is beyond the intellect. You have to have doubts; otherwise, it couldn't be faith.

My friend's problem was the same. I told him so, and, you'll be pleased to know, later he returned to his faith. Now, remember, we need to understand everything we can about the world and about theology, but at some point, we have to realize that Jesus wants only our childlike faith. That's the only way we can really love God. Otherwise, He's simply another object to figure out. Only through faith can we learn dependence on Him.

The antidote to pride, as my colleague Ellen Vaughn writes in her wonderful new book RADICAL GRATITUDE, is reminding ourselves of all God has done for us. Whenever I think of what He has done on the cross, I realize I would be dead today without that. I would be suffocated in the stench of my own sins. And this causes me to repent of my pride, and my faith becomes renewed and strengthened. Ellen calls this experience “radical gratitude.”

So learn all you can, just as we're equipping you to do here at “BreakPoint.” Stretch your mind. Think Christianly. God wants us to use our reason and our knowledge to defend Christian truth in the world. But watch out for pride.

And remember that our greatest weapon against sophisticated pride is not more intellectual arguments. Instead it's the practice of gratitude and simple faith that comes from it. It is a practice that Ellen Vaughn lays out beautifully in her excellent new book, RADICAL GRATITUDE.

________

*

222 Sermon Illustrations on Pride