The Pride Test

I came across a good warning against pride coupled with relevant questions for personal examination.  Due to our human condition, all people experience problems with sinful pride, and if we do not believe we have a problem our condition is even more dire.  Even those who acknowledge their tendency towards pride do not realise how naturally entrenched pride is in our perceptions, thinking, speech and actions.  Based on the principle held forth in Romans 2:1, our disdainful perceptions of others as proud, boastful and arrogant reveals these are our personal practices as well.

J. Oswald Sanders wrote this in Spiritual Leadership concerning pride and the danger it poses--especially for Christians in leadership:

"The very fact that a man has risen to a position of leadership with it attendant prominence tends to engender a secret self congratulation and pride which, if not checked, will unfit him for further advancement in the service of the kingdom, for "everything that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD" (Prov. 16:5).  Strong and searching words, these!  Nothing is more distasteful to God than self-conceit.  This first and fundamental sin in essence aims at enthroning self at the expense of God.  This was the sin that changed the anointed cherub, guardian of the throne of God into the foul field of hell, and caused his expulsion from heaven.

Of the myriad forms which this sin assumes, none is more abhorrent that spiritual pride.  To be proud of spiritual gifts which God has bestowed, or of the position to which His love and grace have elevated us, is to forget that grace is a gift, and that all we have has been received.

Pride is a sin of whose presence its victim is least conscious.  There are, however, three tests by means of which it can soon be discovered whether or not we have succumbed to its blandishments.

The test of precedence.  How do we react when another is selected for the assignment we expected, or for the office we coveted?  When another is promoted and we are overlooked?  When another outshines us in gifts and accomplishments?

The test of sincerity.  In our moments of honest self-criticism we will say many things about ourselves, and really mean them.  But how do we feel when others, especially our rivals, say exactly the same things about us?

The test of criticism.  Does criticism arouse hostility and resentment in our hearts, and cause us to fly to immediate self-justification?  Do we hasten to criticize the critic?" (Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership. Marshall Pickering, 1986. Pages 142-143)

David sang in Psalm 139:23-24 concerning his need for God's insight and perspective into his heart:  "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  It is one thing to know we are proud or anxious, and it is another thing entirely to be divinely empowered to forsake these sins and walk in God's wisdom.  God is gracious to test us so we might see our need for His gracious help to identify sin, repent and walk in the way worthy of God's redeemed forever.

Saved For God's Sake

Some people are really into saving stuff.  They cannot bear the thought of throwing away items they or someone else could possibly use someday.  I have seen people go into the bin to stuff they believed had value just to store it and collect dust.  It did cost money at one stage, so people hold onto it.  In the trash of others some see dollar signs, and others have dreams of restoring dilapidated furniture or making artwork that never seems to happen because they are in the business of acquiring--not giving things away.  I remember walking into a storeroom and seeing hundreds of dusty old plastic chairs stacked to the ceiling.  No one had sat on those chairs for a very long time, and there was a reason they had been replaced.  Why they had been saved without a practical purpose was the question burning in my mind.

Christians are people who are no strangers to saving.  We have been saved from sin, death and hell by faith in Jesus Christ, and we desire others would be saved too.  The Bible teaches us this is good and aligns with the will of the Father in the context for praying for all people in 1 Timothy 2:3-4:  "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  Like people who save items they value from landfills, so we are to be those who reach out to save people from eternal destruction by sharing the Gospel--pulling them out of the fire as it written in Jude 23.  It is common for people to express great concern to me about unsaved loved ones and how they worry they will face God's wrath poured out on the world during the Great Tribulation.

All this focus on saving from wrath, sin and death is warranted, yet it is only one side of the story--and the less important part.  God's desire is to save us from death and hell, but He desires to save us for His glorious purposes, so we can share a relationship with the living God today.  God is not like a hoarder who loads a truck to save potentially valuable or useful stuff from ending up at the tip and packs his garage and house full.  He is not content to gather up souls off the scrap heap to save us from hell and then stuff us into an empty space in the closet or attic without further interactions.  He gives us a seat at His table for fellowship; He spends time speaking with us and listens to our concerns.  God gives us spiritual gifts with the filling of the Holy Spirit and makes us stewards of His kingdom.  He adopts us, not to keep us from going into a home for orphans, but because He has chosen us as His beloved children to dwell in us and we in Him by faith.  God has saved us to do good works He has ordained for us to do (Eph. 2:8-10).

Are you more concerned about people being saved from hell forever or that they be saved for a relationship with God today?  For as much as we care about people, shouldn't we love God enough to want people saved for His sake--since that is why He sent His Son Jesus to die and atone for sinners?  We want to see people saved when God wants people saved for His good and glorious purposes that include them.  He desires a personal relationship with us where He puts in all the work to reach out, to speak, listen, never forgets us, delights to do things together and remains faithful forever--and that we would freely love Him and others as He loves us.

God's Gracious Provision

I was impressed by the grace and goodness of God to meet the true needs of His people when they were not seeking Him.  After the prophet Elijah predicted a drought, king Ahab and a devout steward named Obadiah went looking for water and grass to sustain the lives of their horses and mules.  While Obadiah was looking for water, Elijah was guided by God to meet him.  1 Kings 18:7 reads, "Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, "Is that you, my lord Elijah?"  Apparently king Ahab had tried in vain to find Elijah for many years since Ahab blamed the drought on him.

God's ordained meeting of Elijah with Obadiah led to the epic showdown on Mount Carmel between the prophets of Baal and Elijah.  When God answered Elijah's prayer and consumed the waterlogged sacrifice in the sight of the people, they fell before the LORD in worship of the God of Israel.  Shortly thereafter Elijah bowed before the LORD in prayer, and torrential rain fell that was desperately needed by the people, herds, livestock and crops after a long drought.  It is wonderful to consider how Obadiah looked for water at the king's command, yet Elijah sought Obadiah by God's command that eventuated with the end of severe drought.

While Ahab and Obadiah looked for water to meet the physical needs of their animals, God created an opportunity to meet the spiritual needs of His people He values infinitely more than horses.  For a long time the people "halted" or limped between two opinions, divided in their allegiance between Baal and the God of Israel.  After Elijah repaired the altar of God that had been broken down, he dug a trench around it.  He directed four barrels to be filled with water and dumped on the sacrifice and wood three times and also filled the trench.  I imagine people in drought were appalled at this apparent waste this life-saving resource poured out on the ground.  But the abundance of water magnified the miracle that revealed God in truth to His people, the almighty God who causes rain to fall in due season and supplies the Living Water of the Holy Spirit to all who trust in Jesus.

Obadiah looked for water, but God was looking out for him and all Israel to supply their physical and spiritual needs abundantly.  When people are made aware of their lack, God is faithful to reveal Himself and meet needs we assumed were beyond His reach.  1 Kings 18:38-39 shows God's response to Elijah's prayer:  "Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. ³⁹ Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"  Consider the faithfulness of God to redeem a long drought so people's eyes would be opened and worship Him who is worthy!  While people are looking to satisfy personal thirst and needs temporarily, God redeems our temporary need to supply our eternal needs by His grace.

Worship Etiquette

Growing up, bowling was an activity I enjoyed as a special treat, and in university I took bowling as an elective.  Before our local bowling alley turned to electronic scoring, we used a pencil with paper that included "bowling etiquette."  The paper explained it was rude to stand on the wood approach waiting for your ball to return as this prevented bowlers on either side from bowling in turn.  It is also very bad form when one person is about to begin their approach and then quickly bowl next to them--which is sure to draw the ire of serious bowlers.  In "open" bowling it is understood many people are not aware of proper bowling etiquette, but in league play this is unacceptable and frowned upon.

In many activities we take seriously--whether sports competitions, hobbies or simply eating at the table--there is good etiquette we observe and encourage others to do as well.  Those who are new or less experienced can benefit greatly from being shown and told about good etiquette they are ignorant of.  This is true concerning church services.  I am at times almost impressed by the diversity of perspectives concerning worship through song by parishioners based on my observations over many years.  Even when I have been to conferences for senior pastors only, I have been amazed at times of a tardy approach to gathering and distracted behaviour by those who ought to know better.

When it comes to good worship etiquette, the most important thing is to be present--concerning punctuality as well as giving full attention to the LORD God as we sing praises to Him.  Since we take care to be early or on time for important meetings with higher-ups in the workplace, it seems inconsistent for us to be slack to arrive at the start of a public gathering before the almighty God.  The practice I find utterly confounding is to take photos or videos during a worship gathering to post to social media.  It is amazing to be in a place where God's people are united to praise Him with one voice in song, but if our focus is on God we will not be thinking about trying to capture the moment for ourselves.  And how can a video capture the wonder of drawing near to our LORD in worship?  Doesn't it work to undermine the unity of Spirit when some hold up their phones to take a video rather than raising empty hands in praise before our Saviour and King?

I am reminded of the lyrics to a verse in the hymn Rock of Ages:  "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling; naked, come to Thee for dress, helpless, look to Thee for grace:  foul, I to the fountain fly, wash me, Savior, or I die."  Described here is a singular focus and desperation to enter into the LORD's presence that is foreign to those seeking to memorialise the moment.  It is good form for us to raise empty hands to the LORD in praise and draw near to Him in prayer in awareness of our need and His supply.  While we ought to be considerate of those around us, our primary focus ought to be the LORD God.  He is worthy of all our praise and worship, and may it be from pure hearts by His grace.