Crushing Pride: Coming Clean

“By insolence (pride) comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10

When was the last time you were in a “good” verbal fight? I mean really…

All of us from time to time have been in a war of words over something that really didn’t matter in the end. If you are married or ever been married, I’m sure you can remember some knock-down-drag out arguments that left you up late, emotionally drained, tired, hurt, frustrated, lonely, misunderstood, and even possibly bitter. And I’m sure you wondered to yourself, “How did we get here and end up in this mess?”

Guess what is interwoven into most of our arguments? That’s right – pride. Whenever there’s a fight, argument and disagreement, pride is somewhere lurking around desiring to be center stage. And I believe that you know what I’m talking about. Some of us have experienced this with supervisors, colleagues, wives, children, relatives, baby-mamas, managers, neighbors and even close friends. Pride creates tension and we’ve all felt its affects.

Think about your worst argument for a second. What would have happened in the midst of that verbal assault if you would have taken your eyes off of the other person and confessed and repented of your own pride getting the best of you? You are probably saying to yourself, “Well if she didn’t do this…” or “If he didn’t do that…”

You see, we all struggle with taking personal ownership for our own pride. Let’s face it men, we won’t to always win! We want to be right! We want everyone else to be wrong! We won’t our way to be the right way! We want everyone to listen to us! We want everyone else to “bow down” to our point in the matter! The other persons wrong always captivates our attention more than our own wrongs (Matthew 7:1-5).

Here’s some freeing news - arguments are a normal part of every human relationship but strife (quarrels) comes when we let pride go unchecked, unaddressed and un-confessed. However, something amazing happens when we come clean with our pride. It’s as if our ears become unclogged. For example, whenever I lock horns with someone in an argument, as soon as I acknowledge my sin and wrongdoing, the battle seems to die down instantly. Why? Strife simmers down when we allow the truth of our error to take our eyes off the other person. When we choose to turn the lights on our own pride, choose not to defend ourselves, own our own hang-ups and issues, acknowledging our own wrongdoings, it allows for progression towards health in our relationships.

So the next time you get fired up at someone, put your own pride in check and watch God simmer down the fire. Let’s work on coming clean with our own pride this week as we interact and relate with those around us. Praying for you!

Crushing Pride: Idolatry Awaits the Forgetful

“And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, ‘I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.’” Deuteronomy 8:19

Forgetting God always leads to a dependency upon self and a reliance on our own strength. Why? We need God more than we are willing to admit. Every morning I wake up, I tell my flesh, that I desperately need God. I’ve done this over the years so that my Type A and driven personality doesn’t convince me that I can live a day without the grace, love and power of God.

What does remembering God do? It puts us in a posture of humility and dependence upon Him for living. When we remember God, we recognize immediately that He is the Creator, the King, the Almighty, the Savior and the Sustainer of the universe, and so much more.

In the case of the children of Israel, God was trying to remind them not to “forget Him” when they got into the Promised Land. God literally said, “Don’t think it was your power and might that got you where you are today.” Men, we need to hear this everyday!

Forgetting God, not only can lead to pride, it also can lead to idolatry. What do I mean by idolatry (Exodus 20:3)? We all have a sinful bent within us to forget God and worship everything else but Him. You see, even though Adam and Eve were created to worship God, they chose to ignore or forget what God said to them in Genesis 2:16. Because they decided to give greater allegiance to their own appetites, desires and pride rather than what God said to them, they jacked up all humanity. And guess what? The result is that our lives have been radically changed forever.

That’s why we need Jesus and the love He showed towards us. Don’t forget Him and what He has done for us by dying on the cross for our sin.

I’m reminding you and myself today not to forget God. Remember Him so that you don’t worship and live in awe of your own desires, aspirations, pride, “successes”, achievements, self-sufficiency, image, careers, women, lusts, “self-deception”, etc… You fill in the blank with whatever you devote attention and worship other than God.

Men, our entire existence is because of God. Nothing deserves “the glory” and our devotion more than Him. Remember, we have been created to worship God, not just only Sundays but everyday of our lives. Humble yourself and remember daily to worship God or you WILL substitute God with something else that doesn’t deserve your awe, devotion and attention.

I know God is speaking to you because He is speaking to me. Remember God and worship Him. If we don’t remember Him, we run the risk of coming to ruin like those who already worship everything else but God.

This week, develop your strategy for remembering God and share your ideas with your brothers.

Crushing Pride: Remember God

“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.” Deuteronomy 8:17-19

What was the last thing your wife or somebody else asked you to do? Can you remember what it was? I’ll give you a moment to think about it… Do you need more time?

Hey, let’s all face it brothers, we all FORGET stuff, don’t we? Forgetting things is really innocently a part of life. However, some forgetfulness comes with a high price. Case in point, if you come in everyday for work saying, “I forgot what time I was supposed to show up, your boss would probably show YOU the door.” Also, if you forgot to bring your wedding ring to the altar during your marriage ceremony, you’re probably still haunted by your forgetfulness and in the dog house with your wife. What if you continue telling your wife that you keep forgetting everyday to brush your teeth but still want one of those passionate kisses that you like? Now, that’s nasty forgetfulness…

But if you forget to take out the trash maybe once every other month, there would be no big deal. Or if you forget to put the toilet seat down every now and then, it wouldn’t be anything to stress over (depending on who you’re married too)… Bottom line, there are some things that are critical to remember and there are some things that are not so critical, as long as it doesn’t become consistent and habitual.

In Deuteronomy, Moses, Israel’s 120 year old leader is preparing a new generation destined for the Promised Land after surviving 40 years in the wilderness. Being proactive, Moses encourages them to obey, not following the horrific examples of their predecessors. Throughout his discourse he tells the people over and over “beware lest you forget.” Why would he say this? And what does this have to do with “crushing pride” in my life? Moses understands that forgetfulness tends to lead to arrogance and disobedience. Think about it? When we forget over and over to do something, we are communicating to ourselves and to others that “we don’t need to remember, no matter how important it is or anyone thinks it is.” For example, what happens when you ask your son to clean up his room every day and he doesn’t? He casually tells you everyday that he keeps forgetting. What is he communicating to you? Unless he has a mental or developmental challenge, he is saying, “Dad, what you are asking me to remember is not important to me even though it’s important to you!”

Forgetfulness also can lead to disobedience because it “excuses” ones ability to obey what has been instructed.

Moses was telling this “new generation” not to become deceived into thinking that their own hands had anything to do with them receiving all the benefits of the Promised Land. In other words, “Don’t ever think that it’s by your power or might that you receive anything.” Moses says, “Everything you have is a gift of grace from God.”

It is so easy for us men to think that WE had something to do with our “success”, “progress” and our “wealth.” Everything we have is a gift of grace from God! However, pride convinces us to say, “I did it, that’s why I’m enjoying it.” It also says, “I go to work everyday and make it happen, God didn’t have anything to do with what I accomplish.” But here’s the leveler, “What if God decided to allow your heart to stop beating?” Or what if God allowed a blood clot to lodge in your main artery which would stop the flow of blood to your heart? Everything we have, are and ever will attain to be is because of God whether we accept that or not.

Listen to me! Remember God! Remember God! Remember God! Don’t forget that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17

Remember, it is God who deserves all of the glory, not us.

As you seek to crush pride in your life ask Him, “Jesus, please keep reminding me that it’s you I need! It’s you that has provided for everything I am and everything I have. It is you who has given me wealth, success, good friends, a family, a place to live, influence, good health, food to eat, soundness of mind, people who love me, children, etc… Help me to remember you and make time in my day to honor you, serve you, learn about you and surrender my life to you. In Jesus name, Amen”

Next week, I’ll show you how “not remembering God” leads to worshiping everything but HIM.