Sabbath: Playing God
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Isa: 13:1-22, Isa: 14:1-32, Isa: 24:1-27:13.
Memory Text: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).
After a minister had preached a searching sermon on pride, a woman who had heard the sermon waited for him and told him that she was in much distress of mind, and that she would like to confess a great sin. The minister asked her what the sin was.
“She answered, ‘The sin of pride, for I sat for an hour before my mirror some days ago admiring my beauty.’
‘Oh,’ responded the minister, ‘that was not a sin of pride—that was a sin of imagination!’” — C. E. MaCartney, compiled by Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times, p. 1100.
Ever since sin was born in the heart of a mighty angel, pride has not respected the boundaries of reality (in angels or people). Nowhere is this problem seen worse than in those who harbor spiritual pride, a rather sorry trait in beings so corrupted that their salvation can be found only in the works of another in their behalf.
This week, among other things, we’ll take a look at the origin of pride and self-exaltation.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 6.
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It has been said that age kills all sins except pride. Having ticked off the years to the extent that even Carmel calls me an old man, I am not sure if that observation is entirely true. But I do know the temptation to be proud is just as strong as ever. And nothing shows that more than when your pride has been hurt.
I have told this story before (I don't have an infinite source of stories to call on as illustrations.) I used to be the visuals director for our rather large church. I had actually invented the position and had been involved in it since the very first data projectors were used in church. I had combined my photographic skill to ensure that the visuals for each church service were fresh and fitted in with the sermon topic and hymns and songs that we sang. Not only that, as part of my teaching program, I taught others how to create visuals. I had been leading the team for almost 20 years. Then we had a new minister come along and after the first church service and without any comment to me, he chaired a nominating committee and one of the first things he said, was, "We have got to get rid of that old bloke on the visuals. He is a disaster!"
Of course, the comment got back to me. My pride was hurt and I resigned within a couple of weeks. I went from being actively involved in church to just warming the pews - and even that hurt because I was sitting in the same church where all this happened. I admit to feeling frustrated and angry, and although I did not make a big public fuss about it, the hurt lasted a long long time.
I don't claim any great victory over pride. But I want you to know that lurking beneath the surface of doing a good job is the ugly sin of pride waiting to make your life uncomfortable when it is hurt.
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18.
Maurice- my ques is- when do members speak up in church against wrong and being hurt by others? When do they keep silence? It appears like you were hurting for some time. Hurting so badly could have led to stress (ulcers), resentment, spite, bias against the new visual audio, envy, malice and a load of other sins.
Lyn, that is a whole separate story. Ultimately, there were issues that had to sorted out, but a public forum is probably not the best place to tell that story. My intent in telling the story was to show that pride is often there to power our reactions when we are hurt. We need to be aware of that.
Maurice- many people have been hurt by others in and out of the church, loved one and enemies. Do you think all Christian have some measure of pride? Can you give us some tips how not to allow our hidden pride to take hold of us?
But aren't we called to give up pride because the Lord hates it. Hmm.
I recently had an experience of "hurt pride" and would like to share a tip that helped me. After completing a high visibility project at work, someone in my chain of command decided to recognize the participates associated with the project and omitted my name from the email. Once I realized my name was omitted I felt the sting from my hurt professional pride. It really hurt because I was the team leader and approval authority for that action. Because of the hurt in my heart, I prayed for relief of this pain. The spirit reminded me of 1 Cor 10:31 "whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." I realized the hurt I felt was associated with missing acceptance from man; however the true recognition and acceptance I should seek is from the Lord. I knew that I worked hard and the Lord blessed me with a successful close of this project. Once I changed my state of mind and focused on the blessings from God and acknowledging the most important thing is to bring honor and glory to God in everything I do, I wasn't so caught up in the disappointment of receiving glory for myself. While I was still a little hurt for a few more days thinking upon that verse and praying for peace healed my hurt and opened my eyes to my sin of pridefulness. Now that I have awareness, I can pray specifically for removal of this sin in my life. We are still working on that 🙂
I don't know if my practical tips are of use to anyone else, but when you begin to feel you are indispensable you need to take a basin of water and put your hand in it for a minute. Pull your hand out and contemplate the hole that your hand left in the water. But, you say, "There is no hole!" Exactly - that is the lesson.
To be fair, most of us go through "hurt pride" situations, even if we are humble. My father built a church worth about $3 million at that time. He thought he had built a building that was going to last till Jesus came. 25 years later the church sold the building and they built another church elsewhere. My father was still alive at the time and I know that it hurt him terribly. He was not one to boast about the great edifice that he had built, but he just happened to have lived long enough to see all his work sold off by the church community that he had been part of for most of his life. (There were very good reasons why the church did this by the way)
For me personally, the answer lies in not scratching the scabs off the sores. I looked for other things to do and in hindsight, my episode of "hurt pride" led to more involvement in the community outside the church. (It also gave me more time to write for Sabbath School Net. 🙂 )
Maurice, I'm so very grateful for the extra time you've been able to devote to Sabbath School Net, much of the work being behind the scenes. I also believe that every week many more people are blessed by your contributions here than the membership of your home church whom you blessed by your visual contributions. 😊
Brother Ashton, I so appreciated your comment.
Many times my weaknesses are hard for me to detect also, until I’m in the middle of just the right circumstance.
It’s a reassuring reminder for me, that God loves me so much (and all of His children for that matter), that He sends messages by way of personal experiences. Those little episodes are reminders of where my help comes from.
Your comment also reminded and encouraged me that these things aren’t to discourage rather, they help deepen my security in God’s personal attentiveness and constant loving care.
That is why the only think we can do is ask for God to take our pride and replace it with Christ merits. Shame on us for steeling thunder from next week's lesson. Albeit you have a good transition.
Maurice,
Lots to learn from your experience. I thought I was good at doing projects and in particular one aspect of project work. That is until in my confidence I overlooked one small detail in that aspect which ended up causing a very significant and visible error.
That error had and continues to have a significant adverse impact on how others view the work that I do, and it was a good although humbling lesson to me: The arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own.
Richard
It does seem Satan especially tempts us with pride when it comes to worshipping our LORD together. I could give many examples of my own ... for instance I recall as a young girl hearing a minister preaching about pride and thinking, "I could make a better sermon", so instead of listening I started to write down what I would say, given the opportunity. The irony.
Here's a relatable and humorously told true little story I read from Pastor Joseph Vest (my additions in parentheses) ...
"I hate to admit my shallowness, but I really resent being rejected ... Before I came to Kainay, (Michigan), I sent my resume to several churches. I was looking for God's direction in my life and felt confident that He was moving us to a different place to serve. I can't tell you how many job rejections I received during that time.
What I hate is getting to the interview process and then being rejected. It's one thing for people to look at your resume and reject you - there's no great investment of yourself there. But when you interview, it's face to face, or at least phone to phone. They hear your voice or they see you, they get to know the real you, and to then be rejected . . . that hurts.
There was one particular church in Western Kentucky that interviewed us. My wife, Myriam, went with me, which usually means it's going to be a slam dunk because she's awesome. But a couple of days later, they sent me a rejection email. How lame is that? What, they don't have phones in Western Kentucky? I was crushed. I felt like such a loser.
I must admit that for the next couple of months, I frequently visited their web site, watching to see who they could've picked that would have been better than me. It was sort of website stalking. Then they posted their new pastor's picture - just as I suspected, the guy who got MY job was a grade A, certifiable loser. He didn't even look saved to me.
So I started comparing stats. I mean sure he was younger than me, and better looking than me, and the message I listened to online proved that he was a better speaker than I am; you know he used complete sentences and gooder words and stuff. And I realize he was better educated than I am and had quite a bit more experience in much larger churches than I had, but other than that, I couldn't see that he had much on me. Oh yeah, he was Billy Graham's nephew, but come on!
Beware of approval addiction (which, I'd add, seems to be a form of pride).
So many of us have our identities, our self worth, wrapped up in the approval of others. Then if we don't get it, we're crushed. We don't see that (attitude) with Jesus here (in Matthew 13:54-58, preaching in his hometown synagogue). One of the amazing things about Jesus is He never loses focus of His mission. There's never an indication that Jesus needed the approval of people. He proclaimed his rightful position as prophet which was received with less than a positive response, (the listening people) take him to do a little cliff diving and he proceeds to just move on (Luke 4:30). That's not where I am. I wish it was, but it's not....
Which brings me to my last and most important point: Jesus will never reject you. I sometimes speak to people who've been rejected by a church or by other Christians. These people have been deeply hurt by that experience - I get that. But understand something; Jesus will never reject a person who genuinely seeks Him. John 6:37, However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them (NLT)."
Yes, it is pride that leads us to take supposed insults personally. But notice that it is rarely personal, even if it seems to be. You buy a home, fix it up until it is "perfect". Then one day you end up selling it and if visiting back years later, you can hardly recognize it after what others have done to it, whether good or bad. New owners want to make it "perfect" as well, and are not really insulting the previous owner when making the changes they prefer. Same with church administration. The pastor's words were clearly out of place, and in that situation a better way of instituting change could have been implemented after speaking personally with "that old bloke on the visuals" first.
But isn't God merciful to us when showing us where we could improve? Isn't this what the Psalmist prayed for(Ps 139:23,24)?
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, in not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:15-16.
Playing God--Pride and Exaltation.
All sins can be divided into three categories-
1. love of the flesh.
2. love of the eyes.
3. Pride of Life.
Pride means- when one seeks praises for himself instead of giving the praises to Jesus.
Pride of Life- We as humans, especially Christians, even SDA are called to live without pride. We, the Christians are the ones who says 'Christ is living in me'. The non Christians do not claim or profess Christ is living in them. But is Christ truly living in us or it is some other thing living in us? The text above says 'if we are of the world(our desires and aims are for worldly endeavors and attractions)', then we cant say or claim that Christ is living in us.
In the Israelites time span, there were also many other nations who did not know God neither professed or claimed they knew God. They had no fear of God before their eyes. Bible mentions all their names. Those people dress a certain way, eat a certain way, live a certain way, did business a certain way. etc etc. Joshua 23:7. 1 Kings 11:2.
On the opposite the Lord warned the Israelites not to be like them because the heathen will turn their heart away from God. Joshua 23:8-16. 1 Kings 11:3-7.
Despite all the warnings the Lord gave to the Israelites, they became a prideful nation- Lev 26:19.
Pride- are we a prideful people? A prideful religion because we have and know how to interpret prophecy? Have all the health books, (yet some are so unhealthy)? Have the 28 doctrinal beliefs? etc, etc.
What do all of these matter before a Holy and Perfect Father?
Bible says- six things the Lord hate and the seven is an abomination Prov 6:16. A Proud look!!!
Pride originated from Satan in heaven and he brought it to earth.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate.
It appears the Lord hate all things that originated with and from Satan. Do we hate sins??
Lyn Lew
Thank you for your comment I have learnt one or two-three things on your comment. And it's high time as we Claim to be Christian we need to pray for one another like paul the apostle did to the church in Corinthian and even on Timothy so that our faith can grow stronger every day by so doing Our Father who's in Heaven will be Glorified through us. Amen
I have been praying for this sin, I have also refused to take any position in the church for a long time, it made to be too observant of everything going on, in the church, that has become too judgemental or playing God, I'm thankful for the lesson and your comment Maurice, I want to look at what I'm doing instead of what others are doing so help me God
There’s power in God’s ability to remake us. He can renew, change and overthrow every sinful tendency and human weakness including pride and selfishness.
There’s no reason to give our faults or failures leverage in the fight against sin when we can surrender these to God. He promises to make us new.
God isn’t weak, and we aren’t an experiment for Him. He is powerful at redeeming us from our faults and weaknesses. If we’ll only ask Him to give us strength to surrender all and believe Him, He’ll answer in ways we don’t understand. We can’t help ourselves in this war.
Philippians 1:6, God promised to complete the work He began in us. Believe it, and if it’s hard to believe ask Him for faith to believe it!
He will answer that sincere prayer.
At the heart of our Heavenly Father’s efforts is that His children “ ... will be glad and rejoice in His Salvation” – Isa.25:9. Toward this outcome, He teaches man to know what is His Will and His way so we can experience the joy of our Salvation - our new nature! Righteous living receives His blessings, unrighteous living receives the turmoil related to the effects of man’s choice to do his living without His God.
Digging deeper and deeper into understanding the matter of ‘sin and sinning’ is an ongoing effort. I continue to discover Truths which help me stay aware of acting against the Will of my Father. From Scripture we know that it is very difficult, if not impossible to walk in self-pride and still observe the Will of God; temptations to satisfy the lusts of the flesh are too great. Man cannot balance the demands of the two spiritual influences, he either serves(is influenced by) one or the other.
Wisdom tells us: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" – Prov.16:18KJV. Pride and a haughty spirit are the character traits from which spring the actions causing man to stumble and fall. Can the believer do something to mitigate their effects and avoid other ever present pitfalls in our fallen nature? Yes, humble ourselves, praying for God's Forgiveness, Mercy and Grace.
God speaks through His Prophet Micah the words of Truths found in Chapter 6; the truth about the fallen state of mankind and the offer of living the way in which man can find peace:
Micah 6:6-8KJV - “Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with then thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk(humble thyself to walk) humbly with thy God?
God speaks through Matt.5:1-12KJV - The sermon on the mount, in my opinion, is the handbook for Christian living. All the honorable character qualities are addressed: meek, righteousness, merciful, pure, those are the traits of peacemakers.
God speaks through Phil.4:6-9KJV - This chapter has been titled: "The Peace of God" in the KJVersion. These are the qualities of the things our thoughts should dwell on.
God speaks through Matt.22:37-40KJV - This is where peace, joy, and gladness are born, when we love God with all our heart, mind, and soul and love our neighbor as we have been loved.
I believed while God is working with us, we have to do our part. This thing is a partnership. He works in the inside while we see things differently one the outside.
Whitney- reading your article reminds me about several incidents that happened to me at my work place. People do things for me to get angry and leave. God is directing me day by day. Hold on.
1. The manager used to have a program with gift awards. At the end of the year all who went to work every day without being absent were awarded a gift. She did that for many years. I had wanted the gifts so badly so I went to work everyday for one year. I did not got the gift, so I approached her but she pointed out I was absent one time. The other year I make sure I went to work every day but she refused to have that celebration. My pride was broken.
2. Another time gifts were awarded to people every month according to seniority, then to the junior and rotate around. I waited for years for my name to be posted on the board. My month finally came, I waited patiently just to see my name written on the board. To my disappointment, another worker junior to me name was written instead of mine. I said they probable made a mistake. I waited, waited and still waiting until they got rid of the program. I literally began crying when I saw the injustice, probably my pride was broken. It was at that time I heard a stern voice who called my name from behind and said, 'why are you so concerned about your name written on the board, you should be more concerned about your name written in heaven'. After that event, I started seeing life differently and realized the eyes of God is beholding the good and the bad.
Some of my favourite hymns underscore critical points in my Christian growth experience.
God has promised that His provisions are new every morning: MY SHEPHERD WILL SUPPLY MY NEED. He has been true to His word and guidance: O GOD OF LIGHT. I raise my voice in acknowledgement of Jehovah's Kingship: I SING THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD. I glory in my God's ability to secure for me a wonderful eternity: WE SPEAK OF THE REALMS OF THE BLESSED. Until then, may I be reminded that God will be the ultimate victor: THAT WILL BE GLORY FOR ME!
Praise God for the roadmap of encouragement to His 2nd coming, through His servants, the prophets! We LOOK FOR THE WAYMARKS. "What will the next great glorious drama be? Christ and His coming, and eternity!"
Amen!(0)