Reaching Beyond Mediocrity

Chapter 6: Overcome Pride, Cling to Humility

#60 Declaring the Truth

Discipleship Level 2: Reaching Beyond Mediocrity

By Paul J. Bucknell

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Purpose: How biblical truth statements expose the lies behind pride and retrain the heart toward God’s glory.

#60 Declaring the Truth

Introduction

The Solution Comes in a Pair

Solutions start with revealing the lies or half-truths that allow for prideful thoughts. If we could see things in the proper perspective, we would see how ridiculous these lies are. Confession and repentance is the “dirty work” where our sins are revealed. When I ready my house to be painted, I first have to scrape it. Before I begin, I might know it is already in pretty bad condition, but once it’s been scraped, I see how terrible it really is. Usually it looks five times worse after scraping than before. But I know that unless that loose paint comes off, any paint on top will not remain. Up to now, we have largely focused on this dirty job, but exposing the lies that spawn pride only address half of the problem. There are two parts.

Once the old stuff is off, however, we cannot stop there. We must apply the new paint, and the house will look much nicer. This is the most enjoyable part of the whole job, nor does it take near the amount of time taken to scrape the house. Similarly, once we have removed the pride, we now can unabashedly speak of the glorious aspects of God and His ways. This is not only easy but exciting to learn and do.

The Place of Truth

Truth can be expressed through short phrases, truth statements, or principles derived from God and His Word. These truths are always consistent with the meaning and purpose of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. The more precisely we identify the lie supporting the pride, the easier it is to deliver the truth statement that exposes it. The lie, then, is seen for what it is, something incongruous with God’s good purposes and will. We see the lie, shake ourselves from it by Christ’s blood, and apply the principles from God’s Word to our lives.

Let‘s look at some examples, first using general Bible truths and then more specific truth statements. We will use two examples discussed earlier: wealth and false spirituality. In each case, we will first present the biblical truth, principles, and resolves needed in our hearts to implement them. Then we will offer a “counter plan” to make doubly sure we do not fall into Satan’s trap.

(1) The Pride of Wealth

Lie: I am better than others because of my wealth.

Many people think their wealth makes them better than others. The following biblical truths need to be at the forefront of our minds so that we might gain God’s perspective and fight off the pride that can come from wealth.

Resolve: I will not pursue riches but will observe God’s rules

when doing business. If He grants me riches, that will be up to Him.

Counter plan: I need to determine to strategically (and secretly)

give money away in support of God’s purposes rather than just vainly storing it up. Money is given for a purpose.

Notice that the verse is written to rich people. A wealthy person who has stored up monetary assets should not think of him or herself as wealthy. The advice is very pointed. He should rather glory in his humiliation. In other words, he is not to focus on how rich he is compared to others but to walk in humility because he only has a short, temporary stay on earth.

Why? Because money does not change any facts about the limited duration and strength of one’s physical body in this sinful world. We are just like a flower that blooms and withers. There is nothing special about us because of our wealth. We might be able to purchase the best medication and live a few years longer than average, but even that is not guaranteed. Rich people need to dwell on the reality of life rather than on their riches.

Resolve: At the beginning of each day, I will pause and

remember my limited life span and delight in the fact that I will live with Jesus forever.

Man proudly boasts in his riches but ignores the fact that God has provided his wealth (even though it be through his labor or ingenuity).

Truth statements targeting the rich

Wealth: Pride says, “I am better than others because I am richer

than they are!” We counter this prideful thinking by distilling the truth contained in the scriptures we’ve looked at above:

Truth: God has placed me in this place and at this time for a special purpose.

This counters the lie that I need to focus on getting more wealth or comparing my wealth with others and instead focuses my mind on God’s calling and purpose for my life.

Truth: I am grateful to my parents who have given me so much. This counters the lie that I did not need my parents to get where I am, a sense of irresponsibility, and an ungrateful attitude toward them.

Truth: My talent to make money is from the Lord.

This counters the lie that “natural" talent exists separate from the Lord, by which I gained my wealth and so can ignore God’s purpose and design for my life.

Truth: The Lord has given me wealth and will hold me accountable.

This counters the lie that I can spend “my” money on anything I want or just vainly save it.

Each truth statement targets a certain lie or group of lies. They can be strengthened by other Bible verses. After we identify one thread of false thinking, we must shine the truth upon it.

Having found the verses that expose these lies, we should memorize them and continue to meditate on them. This will be the new way that we think and make decisions. In many cases the verses will give us even clearer direction. This is true for 63

Further verses can easily be found by searching the words rich, riches, 63 wealthy in the scriptures (e.g., search “rich*”) in an electronic concordance to get all the words that start with rich including riches, richly, etc.).

any area of our lives that are touched by pride. In this way, we can instruct ourselves in the way that we ought to be thinking about life. Good changes will follow. What we are doing is building a biblical perspective of wealth and beginning to think properly of what God has given to us.

(2) The Pride of Spirituality

Lie: I am better because I am more spiritual.

Resolve: Even though I am seeking to be closer to God, the

enemy is seeking ways to tempt and hurt me. I will carefully seek God’s help each day.

Resolve: Each day I will seek God’s help to protect me from the

Tempter. (I have noticed that the more spiritually “comfortable” I am, the less I pray about this—a dangerous development!)

Resolve: I must not only be comfortable with godly people but

faithfully seek God’s person and ways. He must be the most important part of my life.

Truth statements target one’s spirituality

Pride says, “I am more spiritual than others here. Others should admire me.” Even our churches have pride, “We are the most spiritual or doctrinally correct church around here.” Holiness is

not to be measured against others but ourselves (or our church) against God’s expectations and standards.

Truth: I am by birth sinful and spiritually dead (Eph 2:1).

This counters the lie that any spiritual life or growth is innately from me.

Truth: I am saved by grace alone in Christ, not through my good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This counters the lie that I or anyone could from our good works find acceptance before the Lord; He alone gets the glory.

Truth: My job is to build up others in love and not to judge them (1 John 4:7; James 4:11)

This counters the lie that we are better than others by comparing ourselves to them. We are not to judge others but busily serving them.

Summary

Two examples, that of wealth and false spirituality, demonstrate not only how the evil one induces pride in us, but also how to combat arrogant lies with biblical truths.

Truths expose the falseness of the lie and train us to think the correct way. This is the importance of scripture in our Christian lives. Turning away from pride alone, by itself, will not work. We must instead be absorbed with being who God wants us to be. We must instill those truths in us so that Satan’s lies are easily exposed.

The state of not having money, success, or spiritual development does not ensure humility. Humility is more than that. Humility is a condition of the heart where we enjoy doing God’s will and purpose to do things His way and for His glory. After all, He is behind it all. We are nothing without Him.

Pride powerfully lures us in our humanistic cultures where materialism reigns. People do not value truth and principle but exalt self and image. Training ourselves to think biblically will enable us to put in place the truths we need to overcome pride and others sins.

Points of Reflection

How is a paint job much like applying the truths of God?

Write out two or more ways people become prideful because of riches.

Write down one biblical truth relating to wealth from one of the examples above. State the principle taken from the truth and the resolve.

What are other areas of life where pride arises? Circle the area in which you have the biggest problem with other than wealth and spirituality. Write down one scriptural passage that addresses it and a “counter” truth from that passage.