Pride

Philippians 2:7 says that Jesus made himself of no reputation. He emptied himself of self. As some theologians explain it, Jesus voluntarily and temporarily laid aside some of his rights and privileges as God the Son when he came to Earth.  

Think about this for a moment. Some self-proclaimed Christians tell the world “look at me” when they ought to be saying “look to Jesus.” This grows even more tragic. The victories God gives are crowns to be thrown at the feet of Jesus. But we would deign wear them on our own heads?  

That is not only tragic, it is a travesty. What belongs to Jesus we claim for ourselves, and once we do that, the crown we wear is tarnished for eternity no matter how much we think it shines in the here-and-now. What a traitorous transposition this is — to fill ourselves based on our faulty flesh when the King of Kings willingly laid aside some of his rights and privileges as the Son of God to save us from ourselves.  

Woe to those enablers, who compliment the shoddy sheen of a corrupt crown. They are not looking unto Jesus; they are engaging in petty politics.   

Those who refuse humility and attempt to steal God’s glory should recall that such sin got Lucifer expelled from heaven and eternally damned to hell. Yep, he got his reward. Attempting to steal glory from God is actually self-robbery. Oh, the blinding nature of sin and self.   

On the contrary, what an inestimable privilege we have to labor for a loving Savior and to give the fruit of that labor back to the only one who empowered us to achieve it and who alone deserves it.  

Remember, there is always only one letter in the middle of the words sin and pride.  

PRAYER

Father: When I become more concerned about how people see me, please remind me that my assignment is to live so that others see Jesus in me. Amen.  

Norm Miller can be contacted at nmiller@montanacc.edu