"Humility can only survive in the presence of God. When God goes, humility goes. In fact you might say that humility follows God like a shadow. We can expect to find humility applauded in our society as often as we find God applauded—which means almost never."If I had to name my "besetting sin," just pick one out of the pile, I'm pretty sure that most people who really know me would not be at all surprised to hear me say pride. Some of you are nodding, yup, nail on the head. This is not a joke that I'm laughing at, and I don't want you to think I take it lightly. It's a problem.
John Piper, Are You Humble Enough to be Carefree?
This month's RMMR meditation passage helped. Phil. 2:1-11 is one of those passages that holds nothing back.
Be of the same mind.
Have the same love.
Be of full accord.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit.
Count others as more significant than yourself.
Look out for the interests of others.
Have the same mind that was in Jesus Christ.
All of that is impossible for the proud person. Proud people dominate, hate the opposition, are constantly competing and fostering rivalries, count only themselves as important, look out only for themselves, and never, ever have the same mind of humility, servanthood, and obedience that was in Jesus.
"Humility can only survive in the presence of God," says John Piper. "When God is neglected, the runner up god takes his place, namely, man. And that by definition is the opposite of humility, namely, pride."
Pride isn't funny, or not serious, or "just the way we are." God hates pride. Jesus was humble. Which path am I going to choose?
2 comments:
"All of that is impossible for the proud person. Proud people dominate, hate the opposition, are constantly competing and fostering rivalries, count only themselves as important, look out only for themselves, and never, ever have the same mind of humility, servanthood, and obedience that was in Jesus."
Jenn, I agree with you about the struggle that pride is. I do wonder about some of your statements though (maybe I am misunderstanding you, and if I am please let me know). Your statements seem pretty sweeping and absolute. Words like, "constantly, only, and never".
For me (and I think you), I don't think I (or you) am constantly competing, or only looking out for myself, or never ever have the same mind as Jesus. Yet I am proud. Pride affects everything I do. When I am proud I am not being like Jesus. And for this I must confess it as sin and repent.
The statements you make seem to describe the unregenerate person. But for those who are in Christ, (such as yourself) there will be a mix of pride and humility. It will be a constant struggle for the sons and daughters of Adam. But with the help and power of the Holy Spirit we can grow in humility - though we'll never be completely set free from pride until heaven. Won't that be wonderful?
That's bad communicating on my part. You're right that the phrases are absolute and could be burdensome. Through Christ we are new creatures and are constantly being conformed to the image of Jesus (which in the end will = humility). That's glorious truth that we can rest on.
That paragraph describes the always and completely proud person, who in actions if not words, hates God. Unregenerate--probably. I was coasting right there for a long time.
Every one of those statements described me in the past, when I believed whole-heartedly in the Gospel. Then God humbled me--big time in multiple ways. God will humble His children, not just once, and not just in one way, and not always right away, but eventually and all the time through many people and ways. God takes proud people and changes them--thank God for that!!! We are all "works of God's grace in progress."
On the other hand, it is appropriate to examine ourselves. If our lives are marked by deep pride, that should be a cause for concern. Not that every time we sin we question our salvation, but if we bring forth only the fruit of pride (or of anger or bitterness or jealousy, etc.), then we should consider what sort of "tree" we are. Matt. 7:17-22, 12:33 & others like it, and 2 Cor. 13:6
If we are proud, and we aren't spending a great deal of time in the word and asking God to change us, then I suggest that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. God saves the humble, but brings low the haughty. One of the truest marks that we are in the faith is that God is granting us humility.(Ps. 18:27, Js. 4:6, Dan. 4)
And in a perfect world that would have been communicated effectively and clearly on the first go. Thank you for clarifying!! Please always do so!
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