I’M SAVED, NOW WHAT? (part-43)

I’M SAVED, NOW WHAT?

ARROGANT PRIDE
James had genuine concerns
about people being arrogant and boasting.
    As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes.
    All such boasting is evil. (James 4:16)

We have to remember that James is expressing what the Lord has
impressed on him to share with us. If he says that boasting is evil,
then guess what, it is evil. Why would he refer to it as evil?

More than likely it is because it creates all kinds of problems. It can
create jealousy and envy in others. It can cause people to resent the
braggart and make every effort to avoid them as much as possible.
It can lead to resentment, arguments and anger as people compare
their possessions, talents, friends and personalities.

Jesus ‘set the bar’ for believers –
“…so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”.
    “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
     so that in him we might become the righteousness
     of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

In order for us to “become the righteousness of God”
we should strive to develop the attributes of Jesus.

Think about your relationships with others:
    When is the last time….
        you lifted someone’s spirits?
        you encouraged someone?
        you put others ahead of your own desires?
        you did something special for someone
        without expecting anything in return?
    Also, when was the last time….
        you gossiped?
        you discouraged or disrespected someone?
        you were determined to please yourself above others?
        you selfishly took from others and
        failed to express your appreciation?

When you meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:21, it seems to imply
that when we “become the righteousness of God”, that is
when Jesus becomes sin for us. If that is true, then we have
a responsibility. Are we striving to “become righteous” or
are we focused on “pleasing ourselves”? It also implies that
if we are not “becoming the righteousness of God”, then Jesus
may not be a part of our lives.

So, why do people boast? It could very well be due to an
inferiority complex. They may feel that they do not measure
up to the popularity of others. For them to be accepted and
liked, they think they need to have more and better stuff than
everyone else.

It could also stem from an attitude of arrogance. They may feel
that flaunting their possessions is a way of expressing their
superiority over other people.

The problem with boasting and arrogant pride is the same. Both
indicate a failure to acknowledge that the abilities they have for
acquiring their possessions are in fact supplied by God.

They have positioned themselves above the Lord in their daily
lives. More than likely they probably don’t have the kind of
spirit that wants to fellowship with the Lord. Why? John says
that arrogant pride indicates a person is focused on things of
the world instead of a relationship with the Lord.
    For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh,
    the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes
    not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:16)

I have witnessed firsthand people who appear to be humble
until they are successful. Success suddenly changed their
entire personality and priorities.

In sports, some people struggle with their ‘game’ and frequently
ask others for advice until they improve. Once their game is better,
they become an expert. It is disappointing to see this transformation
of someone who at one time humbly asked for advice, and now they
are someone who has become arrogant and giving everyone else
advice. Quite often they will once again struggle with their game
and when they do, they start asking for advice again. Wonder
why they start struggling again?

The scriptures tell us that God HATES pride (arrogant pride),
and anything that He HATES should not be seen in His children.
    “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride
     and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse
     speech.” (Proverbs 8:13)

The scriptures also tell us how pride causes problems with relationships.
    “Where there is strife, there is pride, but
     wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
     (Proverbs 13:10)

Those with pride will be dealt with by God.
    “Pride brings a person low,
     but the lowly in spirit gain honor.”
     (Proverbs 29:23)

Pride can result in problems within the prideful person’s own
family. God says He will humble those with pride. He may
choose to do that any number of ways. Disappointments in
the choices of members of our own family can be very humbling.
    “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked
     for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance
     of the haughty and will humble the pride of the
     ruthless.” (Isaiah 13:11)

Pride can cause devastating and lasting problems for the prideful person.
    “But when his heart became arrogant
     and hardened with pride, he was deposed
     from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.”
     (Daniel 5:20)

We don’t know how God will deal with pride in our lives, but
according to His Word, He will. We may lose our job, have
financial problems, have health issues, or be devastated by
the bad choices of family members. We just need to be mindful
that God does not like arrogant pride in His children.

It is probably safe to assume that the majority of people do not
want to be around arrogant and boastful people very often.
Arrogance has destroyed friendships, caused loss of jobs, and
in some cases led to the destruction of marriages. We can see
why James refers to it as ‘evil’.

An arrogant, boastful person is usually focused totally on themselves
and spends little (if any) time concerning themselves with others and
their needs. Using the wisdom the Lord has given him, James addresses
the issue of ignoring the needs and concerns of others.
    If anyone, then, knows the good they ought
    to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
    (James 4:17)

There are sins of “commission”, but James is focusing on the sins
of “omission”. At its basic level, it is a failure of being obedient to
the Lord. There are times when He puts someone on our mind
‘out of the blue’. When that happens, we have a choice to make.
Either we will respond to these thoughts, or ignore them.

There are times when we may not know exactly how we are to respond.
God knows this and gives us prayer as a venue to communicate with
Him and ask for His assistance. Sometimes, He may want us to pray
for the individual, but other times He may want us to do something
specifically in addition to praying.

Since James has been talking about arrogance (which is the lack of
humility), whenever the Lord causes us to think about someone else,
it could be part of His plan to remove our arrogant and selfish pride.
When we are praying for someone else, we stop thinking about ourselves
at least for the period of time we are praying. This could be the first step
in God’s effort to remold us into a person with humility. This is a great
reason for including the needs of others when we pray.

No one likes to feel ignored, but there are times when even close friends
show little interest in you, or what you have to say. This type of treatment
can be hurtful and cause you to have feelings of inadequacy. Ignoring
friends is certainly bad, but disregarding God is worse.

How do we ignore God? We fail to acknowledge Him when we disobey
His instructions. For example, when we feel cornered we are tempted
to tell a lie. When the lie has been told, we’ve ignored the Lord. Whenever
we sense the Lord leading us in some direction but we refuse to follow, we
are ignoring Him.

We should spend time with our Father by reading His Word and praying.
When we don’t, we are neglecting Him. Since He wants to spend time with
us, it grieves the Lord whenever we neglect Him. It also has a negative
impact on us. We miss out on His best for us and we fail to enjoy fulfilling
the purpose for which we have been created.

Thinking outwardly instead of inwardly must have been something
the Lord deeply impressed on James. If you remember, we looked
earlier at what he had to say about failing to help the needy.
    What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone
    claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith
    save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without
    clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them,
    “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does
    nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
    In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied
    by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17)

…and failing to pray (asking God for our needs).
    You desire but do not have, so you kill. You
    covet but you cannot get what you want, so
    you quarrel and fight. You do not have because
    you do not ask God. (James 4:2)

Although he is talking about what we miss out on when we fail
to pray, we should understand that others can also miss out if
we fail to ask for the things they need. How often do your pray
for the needs of others?

Jesus explains the importance of having concerns for others:
    In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from
    Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by
    robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him
    and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest
    happened to be going down the same road, and
    when he saw the man, he passed by on the other
    side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place
    and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a
    Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man
    was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
    (Luke 10:30-33)

    For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat,
    I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I
    was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed
    clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in
    prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also
    will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or
    thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in
    prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly
    I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least
    of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:42-45)

BLOG: utvolwoody.wordpress.com