Skip to main content

Arrogance and Privilege

                 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:20-21)

                We have heard quite a bit in the past decade about “checking our privilege” and being humble, mostly from people who think they have the right to dictate to everyone what to believe or do. They’re right, we should check our privilege and be humble. We should consider what others have to say and what they do. We should pray, observe, meditate, and study. We should listen to advice and accept discipline. None of this requires that we do precisely what we’re told because we were told, but those are the activities and practices of a wise person. It’s like being an athlete. There are specific skills and character traits you need to develop.

                To be humble, we have to be willing to not insist on our way. God made the final decision a long time ago. That person who isn’t cooperating isn’t required to cooperate, and they may not be arrogant or need to check their privilege because they don’t cooperate. God may have led them in another direction. Because of this, wisdom involves our seeking His direction rather than insisting on ours. This doesn’t mean we should be a doormat for others.

                We should also expect that the direction God takes us in will not be easy. It will require discipline – sticking to our course even when it’s not comfortable. If God has called us in one direction, violating that direction to please someone else isn’t humility, it’s cowardice and weakness. Keeping on keeping on is humility if what we’re keeping on with is what God told us to do. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more