Jesus Christ, the Great Social Equalizer Romans 12:16b Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Thoughts for Today: I think the fundamental problem of people who suffer from the twin sins of pride and conceit is they believe what they have is the fruit of their own labors and not a blessing from God. Deuteronomy 8:11-18a identifies this all too familiar condition: Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God...You may say to yourself, My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. Let me ask a question: If a baby boy is born with the genetics to grow to 6 feet 6 inches, run a 4.3 second 40 yard dash, and with great bone density and natural muscle mass, does that make him better than another boy born with the genes to only reach a height of 5 feet 8 inches, general physical un-coordination, and with a tendency to accumulate body fat rather than muscle? Of course not. It simply makes the first boy a better candidate to play football. So where does all this pride and conceit come from, if some people are simply born with greater natural talent or physical ability than another? If we interviewed a rich person (or perhaps a professional athlete), they might tell us their success was because of what they did with their natural talent. Success we are told takes discipline, drive, determination, focus, and desire. Some of that is true. All we need to do is look around and we will see hundreds of examples of people who squandered their natural God-given ability. But should success alone be a source of pride or conceit? What is Gods perspective? 1 Samuel 2:3: Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 1 Peter 5:5b: All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. On my last medical/evangelical mission trip to Nepal a man grabbed my hand and with tears in his eyes, bowed and thanked me (and the other Americans), for coming to his village with medicine. I told him it was the love of God that brought us. He asked how our God could love a simple man like him who worked in the fields. I told him, God gave His sons life for us, so that all who believed in Him would have their sin forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life. Even me a poor man with nothing to offer? he asked. Both you and me, I answered. Then, I explained, Jesus is the great social equalizer. We all come to Him the same way -- empty hands, in bondage to sin, and destined for the grave. He alone frees us. He alone saves. There is no difference between you and me, American or Nepali, in Gods eyes we are all sinners. The Nepali man accepted Jesus that day. Questions to Ponder: All too often we think we are better than another because of our place in life. When in reality we are all the same because our destiny is death without Jesus. Have you suffered from the sin of pride or conceit? Do you think you are better than someone else because of your social standing, income bracket, or physical appearance? If so, you might want to think about it from Gods perspective, before its too late.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 13:21:20 +0000
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