Category: Pride
Subject: Pride
Elijah and Ahaziah
The last paragraph of 1 Kings relates the general tenor of King Ahaziah and his reign over Israel. He only reigned two years, and like his father Ahab before him, “He did evil in the sight of the Lord” (1 Kings 22:52). He like his father was one who worshiped the idol Baal and “provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.” Near the end of Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah, the text of 2 Chronicles 20:35 refers to Ahaziah as a wicked king who Jehoshaphat foolishly allied himself with, thus tarnishing his reign in his final days.
The end of Ahaziah is interesting, and takes up the first chapter of 2 Kings. The chapter reveals how God judged Ahaziah for his idolatry, and took his life. The account also refers to the prophet Elijah, who was such a thorn in the side of King Ahab. Continue reading “Elijah and Ahaziah”
You Do Not Know What Will Happen Tomorrow!
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:13-14).
It takes a bit of arrogance (or ignorance) to actually believe that you have power over tomorrow. So often we see lives cut short by disease or accident, always with expressed shock and dismay. This is understandable, but the truth is such events happen often. Continue reading “You Do Not Know What Will Happen Tomorrow!”
Lessons Learned from Job
As the book of Job begins, we find the man to be extremely blessed by God. He had ten children, and was very rich by the standards of the day. It is said that he was “the greatest of all the people of the East” (1:3). More importantly, he was a man of good character: “that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (1:1).
But, all of this was taken away by the devil. It is interesting that so many have a problem with what happened to Job. They do not have a particular problem with Satan’s work, as they expect such from the adversary. Their problem is with the fact that God allowed it! “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person” (1:12). “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life” (2:6). Continue reading “Lessons Learned from Job”
Subjective Commendation
“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).
Why is it not wise to compare ourselves to other people? The answer is simple, other people are not the standard! This is a very subjective standard that serves to make people feel a bit better about themselves, but in no ways gives insight as to whether they are approved by God!
Take, as an example the Pharisee in Luke 18 who prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector” (11). Setting aside the numerous problems with the man (he was proud, dismissive, and certainly ignorant of the relative righteousness of the man to whom he compared himself), his relative worth in relation to others had no bearing on whether he was accepted by God!
Our Lord clearly said that the Pharisee was not justified. Which shows another problem with such comparisons, it tends to come from a place of pride. “I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess” (11-12).
Like Paul, we must recognize the foolishness of such comparisons. Instead, compare ourselves with God’s words, which shall judge us in the last day! (cf. John 12:48).
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Not Self-Willed
The word self-willed comes from the Greek term (authades), that is found two times in the New Testament. In Paul’s list of qualifications for elders in Titus 1:7, it is preceded by the word “not”, i.e. – “not self-willed.”
Thayer defines the term: self-pleasing, self-willed, arrogant. It comes from the root words autos (self) and hedomai (to please).
In 2 Peter 2:10, the word is used to describe the ungodly character of false teachers, and is coupled with the word presumptuous.
W.E. Vine states that it, “denotes one who, dominated by self-interest, and inconsiderate of others, arrogantly asserts his own will.”
Biblical leadership necessitates an attitude of service rather than entitlement. Peter establishes this in his admonition in 1 Peter 5:2-3, that the elder is not to serve “for dishonest gain” nor “as being lords over those entrusted to you.”
The self-willed person is not particularly concerned with how his decision affects others, because he is focused on his own pleasures and desires. It is an inherently selfish characteristic, and has no place in the Christian’s life. God calls us to humble ourselves, and to be selfless in our love for God and man.
There are few things as destructive to the welfare of God’s people than a self-willed man serving as an elder.
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A Stone’s Throw
A few weeks ago my son Jeremiah preached a lesson titled, “The Distance Greater Than a Stone’s Throw.” The principles found in that lesson are worthy of examination, and I would like to adapt his teaching in this article.
The reference is to Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal, (Luke 22 & Matthew 26). Matthew reveals that after entering the garden, Jesus, Peter, James and John walked a bit further into the garden. There, Jesus left the three of them, and “He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw” (Luke 22:41), where He began to pray to His Father. He was in agony. After finding them asleep, Jesus said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26: 40-41).
Sermon: The Humbling of Kings
A discussion of kings Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius when they witness the power of Jehovah God. (Daniel 2-6)
The Problem of Pride
In James 4, the writer discusses sin present in the lives of some Christians — specifically strife and worldliness. Notice verses 1-4:
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Sermon: I Need Help!
All of us need help from God. Unfortunately, it is possible for their to be barriers that stand between us our such help from Him. Things like Pride, Uncertainty and a Lack of Faith.
COVID-19 (24) Who is Responsible?
You might be getting tired of the news. I know that Debbie is! Her level of tolerance for talking heads and dispute is much lower than mine. Regardless, I have been watching a lot of news on TV, as well as reading articles from various sources, that seek to establish who is responsible for either the good or bad as government tries to deal with the pandemic.
What I have seen is that almost everyone wants credit for the good, and almost no one wants to take responsibility for the bad! The blame game is always being played in politics, and few in that realm want to let a good pandemic go to waste.
COVID-19 (9) For What Is Your Life?
James referred to a specific arrogance present among his readers. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'” (4:13). Doesn’t that perfectly describe our culture, pre-COVID-19? The world was speeding along, unconcerned, living life to the fullest. Few were worried about the possibility of a pandemic that would cripple the world’s economy, and would inspire talk of a “new normal” that would include social distancing and foundational changes.
We have been given a wake up call. James answered those mentioned in the above verse with these words, “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (2:14). All of us today are a bit more aware of our own mortality. Though the virus is not deadly to all, the daily count that we see on every news program is sobering. Carefree days are over. People are scared, and are beginning to realize the frailty of life. We are not quite as in control as we thought we were.
COVID-19 (4) My Understanding Returned to Me
Daniel 4 records a dream that the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had during his reign. His dream had frightened him, and again he sent for the Jew, Daniel to give him an interpretation.
Daniel told him that the dream was about the king himself, and it was from God. God had decreed that Nebuchadnezzar would be driven from men because of his unrighteousness and arrogance, and he would be insensible “your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen” (25).
Continue reading “COVID-19 (4) My Understanding Returned to Me”
The Patternists: The Man Who Acts Presumptuously
Deuteronomy 17 proclaimed that idolatry was a sin worthy of death. If the guilt was certain, no trial was necessary. Upon the testimony of two or three witnesses, the idolater was to be taken to the gates of the city, and stoned. “So you shall put away the evil from among you” (vs. 7).
In matters that were difficult to judge, where the guilt or innocence, or the appropriateness of punishment could not easily be determined, instructions were given to go to the priests, Levites and judges (vs. 9). Inquiry would be made, and judgment would be pronounced. When that judgment was pronounced, the Israelites were bound to obey it. “According to the sentence of the law in which they instruct you, according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from the sentence which they pronounce upon you” (vs. 11).
What if a man was unwilling to submit to the pronouncement of the priests in the matter? He was labeled as presumptuous.
Continue reading “The Patternists: The Man Who Acts Presumptuously”
Sermon: Hearts of Servants
The Lord’s admonition of his disciples in Matthew 20:24-28 expresses very clearly that as Christians we should not seek exaltation, but should have the hearts of servants.
Sermon: Hagar – Sarai’s Handmaid
There are numerous lessons to learn from the Genesis narrative that includes Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid. We learn from the sins committed, as well as gaining hope regarding God’s provision for the outcast.
