Consider the following...
The Bible says in Psalm 75:6-7, "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. [7] But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another."
Junior Hill, a longtime Southern Baptist Evangelist, said several things about promotion in his book, They Call Him Junior…
- Men and women are never promoted because they deserve it—but because God desires it.
- While promotion does always imply an act of God’s hand, it does not necessarily imply and act of God’s honor. We would do well to remember that in the economy of Heaven exaltation is never synonymous with commendation.
- Sometimes God puts a man at the top of the totem pole just to teach him who made the pole!
- As strange and unusual as it may seem, the ever wise and omniscient God of Heaven has a mysterious and peculiar way of lifting a man up so that in due time He may bring him down.
- When God promotes a person it is not always a promotion of honor!
Junior Hill further states in the book, "…All of us have watched with deep sorrow as greatly gifted men and women have risen to what appeared to be places of high honor, only to later learn that their lofty positions served only to reveal their unbridled selfishness and pride... That’s why men and women of God had best learn to be satisfied with who they are and where they are—to faithfully take their place and let God do the promoting… we can rejoice in knowing it has been freely given by Him and never seized by self-will or self-promotion."
Jonathan Edwards once declared, "Pride is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of religion. It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit."
John Phillips said, "Pride is extremely destructive… Pride has wrecked more homes, mobilized more armies, broken more friendships, and ruined more lives than any other force in the universe."
The Word of God says in Proverbs 11:2, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom." The Word says in Proverbs 29:23, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." And in James 4:6 the Bible says, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
Did you see that statement in James 4:6? God resisteth the proud. What does this statement mean?
1. God opposes the proud.
2. God is determined to be against the proud.
3. God sets Himself up against the proud.
Perhaps the most important vote taken will be the one that we cast in our own hearts. Below are some truths to consider taking before a Holy God in prayer before voting in Election Day 2010:
1. Pride is derived from a word meaning "high." It suggests elevating ourselves, looking down on others, seeking to lord it over them. Sound like America? Proverbs 21:24 (NKJV), "A proud and haughty man--"Scoffer" is his name; He acts with arrogant pride."
Pride is a God defying sin. It flouted the justice of God as did Cain. It confronts God and challenges Him to combat as did Pharaoh. Scriptures say the satan fell because of his pride. He lifted up his spirit and wanted to be God himself.
2. No proud person (family, community, church, Nation, school, etc...) will go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." Proverbs 16:18-19, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. [19] Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." Proverbs 18:12 (NKJV), "Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility."
"Destruction" speaks of a total shattering of what a person has and is; it refers to a crashing down from a cliff or high place. "Fall" refers to stumbling off the edge of a bank or precipice.
Johnny Hunt made a clear and precise state when he said, "The only thing worse than pride is being prideful and not knowing it."
3. Pride does not want to admit wrong, especially publicly. Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
4. Pride causes us to be self-righteous, self-congratulatory and self-sufficient. Pride blinds us to our true condition and our great need. Pride causes us to fear men rather than God. One of the greatest statements I have read of late was made by CH Spurgeon. Spurgeon once said accurately, "Brethren if our righteousneeses are so bad, what must our unrighteousnesses be? There is sin in our very holiness; there is unbelief in our faith; there is hatred in our love; there is the slime of the serpent upon the fairest flower of our garden."
5. Pride causes us to compare ourselves to others and breeds a competitive, critical spirit.
6. Proud people don’t want help because they don’t “need” help.
7. My pride will strangle the life of Jesus right out of my family and even the church I have the privilege and responsibility to pastor. My pride will kill and quench any momentum given by God’s Holy Spirit. I can take my family and church from the position of being under God to the position of standing over God. That is a price that I cannot afford to pay.
God help me and my family get under You and please keep us there!
James 4:6-10, But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Keith
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