Have you ever noticed the difference in how a high school or college senior walks the halls of school as opposed to how a freshman does it? Not that it’s all sinful, but we do have a tendency to become familiar with our circumstances and proud of our accomplishments. Unfortunately, what often happens is that pride DOES become sinful, as we start to think that we’re somehow better than others–more worthy of honor and respect. Recently, I noticed a group of high schoolers looking down upon a group of middle schoolers at a teen outreach. What bothered me so was that the older group were professing to be Christians, and still had no problem flaunting their “superiority” over the younger group. Shouldn’t they have used the natural respect they would receive and set an example for the younger group? If that’s not bad enough, Christians often take the same sinful attitudes to church. If a person has been around the halls of church long enough, he should have learned that “serving God and serving others” is the whole idea of being a member of the Body of Christ. More often what happens is that we pick church as the perfect place to “flaunt our righteousness” among those who we think should appreciate it (and us) more! I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been impressed or enjoyed a moment of company with anyone who openly considered themselves more important than I. In fact, it’s a pretty ugly site, no matter how nice the “Sunday clothes” look. So, whether you’re walking the halls of Harvard ranked number #1 in your PhD program, or moving up from the grade school to middle school program at your local church, check your pride at the door. It doesn’t look good on you! The salvation you’ve received through Jesus Christ was a gift to you… don’t try to act like you earned it!
“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” 1 Corinthians 4:7
In Christ,
PastorJimKilby @Kilbin8er
Jim@JamesKilby.com
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