Inflating the "I"

By Marjorie Kinnee
Editorial

 Text: Jeremiah 9: 23-24 -- "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight saith the LORD."

Certain forms of pride are acceptable; pride in your country, pride in your heritage, pride in your children's accomplishments, and in general, the sense of pleasure in well-doing.

The Big "I" -- But pride develops a problem when "I" is inflated. The greater the inflation, the more obvious "I" becomes. Sadly, prIde is quick to get out of hand. Any and every one else can see it, but the one doing the (self) inflating is running blind. His or her huge "I" is in the way. "For I say, through the grace that is given unto me, to ev ery man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think: but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

So ho is it that we slip so easily over the line between acceptable pride in the accomplishments of others and the foolish self-inflating kind? The Bible is clear -- "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18) I believe the seeds of sinful pride germinate when we compare ourselves with others. "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves,and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. ...But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." (II Corinthians 10:12, 17-18)

The first one to fall into the snare of prIde was LucIfer. His "I" got so inflated he thought to make God move aside so he could take over Heaven's Throne. What's more, it soon became plain that this kind of inflation was contagious. It spread like weeds. LucIiferian prIde so penetrated the ranks of the heavenly host that it had to be settled in a cataclysmic event. (See Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12-16; Ezekiel 28:11-19.) "For if a man think himself to be something,when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." (Galatians 6:3) Although Lucifer (Satan) continues to germinate seeds of prIde in hearts and minds, his end is a foregone conclusion. (See Revelation 20:1-3, 10.)

Need help dealing with prIde? Dig into the Word! Cultivate it! Learn to think with the mind of Christ. Use the Word to defeat the suggestions and snares of the enemy of your soul. Allow the Word to do its holy work in your heart and mind. "For the Word of God is quick, [alive] and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,and the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: butall things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." (Hebrews 4:12-13) Filter out the weed seeds... prune... purge... Down with self-inflation! Glorify God!

Room to Grow?

By Bishop Charles R. Grisham

Scripture Base: Philippians 3:12 - "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus."

Do you still have room to grow? One of the most dangerous things that can happen is to feel we have "already arrived." There are those in this world who continually measure themselves by foolish comparisons to others they think are far below their standard. Paul issued a strong warning concerning this; "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measure themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise." (II Corinthians 10:12)

Jesus warned repeatedly of the leaven of the Pharisees; (spiritual pride,) the attitude that is afflicted with the infectiousness of arrogance, the idea that "I have arrived." or that, "I am perfect." He said, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Once they obeyed all their own rules to their own satisfaction, they set out to impose themselves upon others. Jesus warned about three leavens. They were...

• the leaven of the Pharisees - spiritual pride
• the leaven of the Sadducees - power and control
• the leaven of Herod - the kingdom of self

These three Jewish political sects thought only of perpetuating their own power base. Jesus' warnings were well documented. (See Matthew 23.) Interestingly, these leavens became the apostasy of the New Testament church.

There are those who have obeyed a set of rules and now feel they have the right to "look down" on others they feel are less perfect. When a person begins to pride themselves with being the best, or the holiest of all, they have placed a lid on their potential to grow. After all, they think they are the best, greatest, and holiest in every way. It's like the old popular song that said, "Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way." They are blinded to reality...

• "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods,and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked;" (Revelation 3:17)

When we think we have already arrived we cannot grow and progress. There seems to be a necessity of need in order to progress spiritually. The apostle Paul never stopped reaching... pressing... striving. He always kept a pace of trying to get nearer to God. He made it clear he didn't think he had arrived. He said he was still trying to grow.

• "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

Do you think you have already arrived? Or, do you think there is still room to grow? It's a serious matter!

Pride

By Donna Franklin

Hidden in secret places,
where only God can see,
The killer sin lies silent,
destroying humility.

Lurking in the shadows,
rebellion and self-will
Crouch and plot destruction
as haughty spirits thrill.

Hearts filled with pride,
Eyes full of lust,

and imaginations vain.

 

Pride grows when fed on boasting,

Giving only self all praise.
The "I" gets ever bigger;
God's no longer in their ways.
The answer? If His people,
Those called by Jesus' Name,
Will humble themselves, pray, repent,
faces covered with shame;
God's promised He will hear,
forgive,
and restore our land again.

 

 

Editor's Note: Donna Franklin writes as the Spirit moves on her. Author of a number of poems and articles, she is a faithful saint in the Paoli United Pentecostal Church (Paoli, Oklahoma - Pastor Terry Erwin).