The prize of pride is glory—the glory of man and the glory of self. Is it worth it? Most think so.
Jesus accused his enemies of trading faith for the praise of each other:
“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?” (Jn.5:44).
The glory of man is a powerful drug. And like all drugs its acquisition is driven by addition and its maintenance by ruinous costs.
God did not design us to encourage the praise of others. Humility must be sought at all costs—especially at the cost of pride. By upgrading ourselves, we downgrade God.
Christian communities produce exceptional people. By their nature they encourage goodness and self-discipline. So, it shouldn’t surprise us that our brethren do well in what they put their hand to. When they give glory to God for their success, they are a powerful witness for Christ. However, when Christ is diminished or forgotten, they are asking for God’s discipline.
God has built into faith a means of divine elevation: Stay away from the front and wait for others to move you up; “he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk.14:11).
Too many Christians associate humility with the realm of ‘Participation Medals’ and ‘B-teams.’ They cannot fathom a world where humble service in the church causes thunderous applause in heaven. A world where John the Baptizer worked every waking moment of his life to exalt the Christ. He cared nothing for fame. Of the powerful, those who could have exalted John before man, he said they were snakes and adulterers. Of himself, he said he was but ‘a voice crying in the wilderness,’ one who must decrease as Christ increases. To seek the glory of Christ and His church is all that matters.“
Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (Jm.4:10).
John Staiger
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