Dealing Arrogance and Pride - Developing Humility
Radical Discipleship Vs Mediocre ChristianityPastor Ed Riddick - Sunday, January 9th, 2005
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Introduction - Who’s Number One?
Key Verse: Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself (Philippians 2:3).
Ever been glad you don’t have a problem with pride like so-and-so?
In C.S. Lewis’ classic book The Screwtape Letters, an elder demon counsels another on how to bring down a Christian man: “Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, ‘By golly! I’m being humble,’ and almost immediately pride—pride at his own humility—will appear. If he awakens to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt—and so on, through as many stages as you please.”
It’s easy to miss this tactic, yet we readily identify and cringe at others’ pride. The Apostle Paul confronts this issue in 1 Cor 4:6-13
One of the biggest problems that they had in the church in Corinth, and something that we still struggle with today, is the problem of arrogance and pride. It’s the problem of thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. Many people think that there is a great lack of self-esteem, or self-confidence today. They encourage people to plug into seminars that teach you how to have a positive self-image and how to build self-esteem.
What Is At Stake? Spiritual Intimacy Despite Our Imperfections
Spirituality is not a formula; it is not a test. It is a relationship. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it is about connection. The way of the spiritual life begins where we are now in the mess of our lives. Accepting the reality of our broken, flawed lives is the beginning of spirituality, not because the spiritual life will remove our flaws, but because we let go of seeking perfection and instead seek God, the one who is present in the tangledness of our lives. Spirituality is not about being fixed; it is about God’s being present in the mess of our unfixedness.
Mike Yaconelli, Messy Spirituality (Zondervan, 2002), p. 13
What we need to do is face squarely the reality of who we are not, so that we can come to a realization of who God wants us to be in Christ. If you’re always excusing or covering up or pretending, you’ll never face the reality of your own situation or be able to do anything about it. We have a lot of people who live in fantasyland today. They just will not acknowledge their own sinfulness or come to Christ and seek his forgiveness.
Read: 1 Corinthians 4:6-15
I. Some Basic Truths – “Just the facts mam, Just the facts.”
The Dangers of Pride
4:6 “I have applied these things” What things?
What was said about preachers in the preceding chapters
Clearly this paragraph continues his line of thinking from the previous
“Throughout 1 Corinthians 1—4 Paul is primarily concerned to address the factionalism that was tearing the church apart with squabbles, jealousy, and one-upmanship.
Paul found it necessary to address several Corinthian misconceptions regarding the nature of genuine Christian leadership.
A. The right view of ministers - Their Job Description:
1. Gardener - Fellow servants of God, 3:5-9
Servants with an assigned task
Called to various aspects of ministry: planting, watering
Each has his own task, his own calling.
2. Builder - Fellow Workers for God, 3:10-17
“Everything is God’s—the church, its ministry, Paul, Apollos— everything. Therefore, it is absolutely not permissible to say ‘I belong to Paul,’ since the only legitimate ’slogan’ is ‘we all belong to God.’”
3. Servant “under-rowers”, 4:1
SERVANT (”under-rower”): galley-slave of Roman war-ships who must watch the captain and instantly obey [1] >> SPARTACUS
Slaves who rowed under the authority of the man who coordinated their individual efforts propelled the ship.
4. Steward “housekeepers”, 4:2
STEWARD (”housekeeper”): the manager-slave of a wealthy person’s estate who distributes needed care to the owner’s other slaves.
A steward (”those entrusted with,” NIV) was a servant whom his master entrusted with the administration of his business or property. His job was to devote his time, talents, and energy to executing his master’s interests, not his own.
“I have applied these things to myself and Apollos”
Instead of teaching in the abstract that ministers are servants
He had presented the truth in concrete form about himself and Apollos
Why? So that
”in us” – what he has said about himself and Apollos
Danger: that we would fail to benefit from their ministry and worse, embrace false teachers and teachings.
B. The secret to keeping a right perspective!
“so that you may learn not to exceed what is written”
No to estimate ministers above the scriptures. Nothing beyond what stands written. He does not appeal to any one passage but to the doctrine taught in the Scriptures concerning ministers.
Ministers are servants.
The Corinthians were not to think more highly of their ministers than the Bible authorized them.
The heart of the issue is that they viewed the apostles through their own perspective instead of through the eyes of God.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 ” Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. ” NASB95
Danger: broken relationships
C. The heart of the issue
“so that you will not be puffed up” – balloon
they were self-focused! Their needs are the important needs, their view is the right perspective, their rights, their wisdom
So full of themselves.
1 Corinthians 4:18 ” Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. ” Against Paul
1 Corinthians 4:19 ” But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. ” NASB95 False teachers
1 Corinthians 5:2 ” You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. ” NASB95 Moral indifference
1 Corinthians 8:1 ” Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. ” NASB95 Their preferences
1 Corinthians 13:4 ” Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, ” What love looks like
The result:
2 Corinthians 12:20 ” For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; “
Do not be puffed up one above another
Do not assume a hostile position against others.
Danger: that we would turn inward!
Xenos - When the church turns inward:
-We find flaws in others and become critical
-When we become Self-focused we become judgmental
-The pastime becomes comparing ourselves to each other
- Posturing begins
- Discouragement and depression sets in as we think about ourselves
D. It’s All About God’s Grace
4:7 – Straightforward argument against pride in two simple ?s
“For who makes you to differ?” A rhetorical question.
Who thinks you are better than others?
Your superiority over others is mere self-conceit and inflated ego.
You are and can only be a pardoned sinner.
Or
So, you are different and your gifts vary. But
Who is the author of these differences? God is and therefore you
have nothing to boast about.
“What do you have that you did not receive?” All distinguishing advantages come from God.
“If you received it why do you glory as if you did not receive it?”
And even if you are superior in some way this comes from God.
Everything by which you are favorably different from others is due to God. This is then a cause for gratitude and not pride or self applause.
This is the basis of true humility!
We have no good in ourselves at all.
And the good we do have God who has given them to us.
and we are forever indebted to His grace.
Isaiah 66:2 ” Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” NIV
Danger: That we would exalt ourselves instead of God and fail the grace of God.!
Piper on Humility
1. Humility begins with a sense of subordination to God in Christ.
Matthew 10:24 ” “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. ” NASB95
1 Peter 5:6 ” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, ” NASB95
2. Humility does not feel it has a right to better treatment than Jesus got.
Matthew 10:25 ” “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! ” NASB95
3. Humility asserts truth not to bolster the ego with control or with triumphs in debate, but as service to Christ and love to the adversary.
2 Corinthians 4:5 ” For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. ” NASB95
4. Humility knows it is dependent on grace for all gifts, all knowing and believing.
1 Corinthians 4:7 ” For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? ” NASB95
James 1:21 ” Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. ” NASB95
5. Humility knows it is a servant, and so considers criticism and learns from it.
1 Corinthians 13:12 ” For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. ” NASB95
Proverbs 12:15 ” The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. ” NASB95
II. The Need for Humility
Contrast Between the Apostles and the Self-Satisfied Corinthians
4:8 Sarcastic Approach to Arrogance
Irony: saying something to convey the opposite.
Sarcasm: to tear flesh as dogs do, wounding with cutting words by taunting or ridiculing.
Why does Paul use sarcastic irony? To get through to them. Because being straightforward with God is neither an easy nor a common grace.
You are not only full – no longer hungry so personal and group study
suffers.
You are rich and have more than enough. – no anticipation and
Excitement when you come to church as to what God is going to
teach you.
Driven by the underlying motive of personal comfort
Rather than personal calling!
Mat 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
We can cultivate personal hunger and teachability.
Kings - You have reached the goal of perfection without us.
You have left us poor apostles far behind. You may be king of the hill or your little corner of the world. But you are not a king in God’s kingdom. Prosperity gospel. Name it and claim it theology!
The idea is that Paul is saying that the Corinthians think of themselves as having reached the full blessedness of the Messiah’s reign.
Paul says, “Oh how I wish this were true.”
Revelation 3:17-19 ” ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. ” NASB95
4:9
We apostles have been made a “show” – the object of entertainment to the whole universe of angels and people.
The Apostles have been presented by God to the world as wretches brought on at the close of the display in the arena, men condemned to death and sure to perish.
4:10
He contrasts his situation with theirs from their perspective:
We are fools = our devotion to Christ and his cause is such that you regard us as fools.
you are wise = your union with Christ is such that your perspective of yourselves is that you are wise.
You regard us as weak
But yourselves (false teachers) as strong.
You see us as dishonored – objects of contempt.
But yourselves as honored (false teachers) – objects of respect.
III. The ‘Christ Way’ Is a Journey Through Brokenness
4:11-13 The Plain Truth About the Life of An Apostle
God uses broken things. Broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.
Vance Havner
And no wonder the apostles where thought to be fools.
In the cause of Christ they go hungry and thirsty
They do not were the latest in fashion design or even cloths
In the best of shape.
They are mistreated (cuffed – arrested)
They often do not know where they will sleep the night
God chose Paul and the apostles because He knew they would go the distance.
Moral relationships
When cursed / reviled (abused verbally)
– we bless (speak well of with kind words, good wishes and
prayers) implore good upon. We return abuse with kind
words.
Being persecuted (physical abuse)
- we patiently submit to it without complaint
Being defamed (having evil deeds and motives ascribed to us)
- we entreat (exhort with kindness instead of answering back with
anger.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 ” But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. ” NASB95
(See also 2 Cor 6:4-10; 11:23-33)
1 Peter 2:23 ” and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; ” NASB95
“We are made the filth of the earth”
The sweepings of the floor, scum, filth = the lowest of humanity
We have become the world’s scapegoats, the scum of the earth to this day.
Criminals condemned to death to cleanse the city of human
filth.
Principle: that which has life must be broken so that the life within can come out. Everything we rely on and trust in stripped away so that Christ is exalted in our lives.
The Christian life is not a life of repression or suppression.
It is the life of Christ released within me living through us to live effective for Christ.
Galatians 2:20 ” I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” NIV
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ” But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” NIV
Examples: Abraham, Rebecah, Joseph, Moses, David, Peter, Paul
Musician Steven Curtis Chapman writes:
In brokenness, I have felt tangible expressions of God’s grace…. I had stacked some rocks out at this little place in the woods, a place I had gone to pray, desperate for God to do something, to show up, or to have some sort of breakthrough. As I was praying, I remember smelling cedar, so strong it distracted me from my prayer. I looked around to see this little cedar tree that had been snapped in half from my stepping in there. . . . That was where the smell was coming from. It was a tangible sign of grace as I was coming to understand it. I had a little note pad out there with me, and I wrote down these words: “The fragrance of the broken.”
Citation: Steven Curtis Chapman in CCM (July 1999)
In 1463, members of the City Council of Firenze (Florence) Italy decided they needed a monument to enhance their city. They commissioned a sculptor to carve a giant statue to stand in front of city hall. Someone suggested a biblical character wrought in the neoclassical style, an expression of beauty and strength.
They approached Agostino di Duccio, who agreed to their terms. Duccio went to the quarry near Carrara and marked off a 19-foot slab to be cut from the white marble. However, he had the slab cut too thin. When the block was removed, it fell, leaving a deep fracture down one side. The sculptor declared the stone useless and demanded another, but the city council refused. Consequently, the gleaming block of marble lay on its side for the next 38 years, a source of embarrassment for all concerned.
Then, in 1501, the council approached another citizen, the son of a local official, asking him if he would complete the ambitious project, using the broken slab. Fortunately for them, the young man was Michelangelo Buonarroti. He was 26 years old, filled with energy, skill, and imagination. Michelangelo locked himself inside the workshop behind the cathedral to chisel and polish away on the stone for three years. When the work was finished, it took 49 men five days to bring it to rest before the city hall. Archways were torn down. Narrow streets were widened. The people from across Europe came to see the 14-foot statue of David relaxing after defeating Goliath. It was even more than the city fathers had envisioned. The giant stone had been transformed from the massive fractured waste of rock to a masterpiece surpassing the art of either Greece or Rome.
Sam Whatley, Pondering the Journey (True Life Publishers, 2002), pp.17-18
Prayer:
“O Father, as much as it lies within us, we humble ourselves under Your mighty hand. Have mercy on us in our battle with pride, and help us put to death all that is arrogant and self-exalting in our lives. Show us our utter helplessness without You, and the sweetness of Your undeserved mercy. Grant us to walk in meekness and lowliness of spirit, and to make known the greatness of Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.”