I asked God to show me my sin and He was gracious enough to do so in a way that didn’t rub my nose in it but still got the message across. How good He is.
In the book of Luke Jesus told the story of the Guests. Chapter 14:7 reads:
“Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Do I take the place of honor? Do I desire or think I deserve the place of honor. Do I want to be friends with people because I like them or just because they are important? And just how entrenched is this in my life?
The other day I stepped over to talk with two men (both in leadership positions, both whom I admire). The one paused and gave me a greeting, a bit of small talk and then turned continuing with another conversation. I found myself resentful at what I took as a snub. (See what a snob I am?)
After I got home I was rethinking the whole scenario. Why would I be offended? As I thought about it, I realized that I am such a prideful man. Why should I gain an intimate audience with either of these two anyway? My function is not the same as these men so why did I want a "place of honor"? Why did I try and take a “chief seat”? Pride! Why did I take offense? Pride. Why did I even interpret the situation as a slight? Pride. So I have a pride problem.
Pride is an awful sneaky sin, masquerading itself in all manner of righteous or justifiable actions. I wonder how long it will be before I am free of this beast? These men need real friendships. A pride filled man makes a lousy friend. It makes us into hypocrites and tears everyone down. It makes us angry and resentful towards folks who don’t deserve it. It causes significant social problems, in short: it is a killer. It is the sin of Lucifer and is at the root of all sins.
So God has answered my prayer! He has shown me my sin of pride and I will praise Him for it. He wants only His very best for me. He wants me to function in the body of Christ in a way that only I can but first He and I have to deal with the sins in my life. So I pray to Him in thanks, for forgiveness and ask for His help in coming against the sin of pride in my life. He is still my Heavenly Father and He loves me. Like the saying goes: “He loves me too much to leave me the way I am.”
One thing I have come to know is that when I am offended, overly sensitive or having anger issues it is likely a problem of pride no matter how I try to paint it otherwise. God says that, "Where there is contention there is pride." (Prov. 13:10) If I am having trouble getting along with others, if my opinion is always the right one, if I am always certain about everything then I need to check it out... it's pride. Pride hides under many guises and so rooting it out is something that we must get help from God on. David said, "Search me, Oh God, know my heart..." and we must do the very same thing.
The exciting part of all this is that God will keep His promise to make us new. He has only good in store for us as we honestly come to Him desiring to be more Christ like. Once He has touched the area of sin then, and only then, will He be able to use us to the fullest extent in the way He has specifically designed us to be used. We are His workmanship and He has specific plans for each of us if we will make ourselves available. Only once we have found that "sweet spot" of service that He designed for us will be truly happy. God has a job for me and for you! Now if that doesn't excite you I don't know what will.
One thing I have come to know is that when I am offended, overly sensitive or having anger issues it is likely a problem of pride no matter how I try to paint it otherwise. God says that, "Where there is contention there is pride." (Prov. 13:10) If I am having trouble getting along with others, if my opinion is always the right one, if I am always certain about everything then I need to check it out... it's pride. Pride hides under many guises and so rooting it out is something that we must get help from God on. David said, "Search me, Oh God, know my heart..." and we must do the very same thing.
The exciting part of all this is that God will keep His promise to make us new. He has only good in store for us as we honestly come to Him desiring to be more Christ like. Once He has touched the area of sin then, and only then, will He be able to use us to the fullest extent in the way He has specifically designed us to be used. We are His workmanship and He has specific plans for each of us if we will make ourselves available. Only once we have found that "sweet spot" of service that He designed for us will be truly happy. God has a job for me and for you! Now if that doesn't excite you I don't know what will.
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