Starting our reading from the book of Mathew. Matt 18:1-5
· At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
While watching tv, the question was raised “Who is the most handsome man?”
· I quickly blurted out, “No question, it is I.
· I take full responsibility for that distinction.”
· Kathie was quick to point out that it would not be me and to my amazement, the tv programming agreed.
· They proclaimed some guy named Michael B. Jordan as the world’s best-looking man….who’s that?
I was shocked.
If you take notice, there are all kinds of questions very similar to being the best. The most prevalent question is who is the greatest.
· Muhammad Ali claimed that he was the greatest of all times
· Michael Jordan is crowned the greatest basketball player of all times.
· Tom Brady, while retiring again, is described as the greatest football player of all time.
· Serena Williams, is regarded as the greatest tennis player
It doesn’t stop there…people want to be the greatest politician, cook, teacher/administrator of the year. People strive for the Grammys, Emmys, Noble Peace Prize as a means to be recognized for their work with the total work package rivaling their contemporaries as the greatest in their craft.
The Greatest of all times is called the “GOAT.”
It is strange how the meaning of words change through the years because when growing up, no one wanted to be called the goat.
· You would be called the goat when you were the reason your team lost a game.
· As much as people dream of being a hero to lift your team to victory, there is the awful chance that you could be the goat and miss those free throws.
Even the bible makes a distinction between the sheep and the goats.
Look at Matt 25:32 and following is the parable about the sheep and goats.
· 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
The rest of the scripture describes the sheep as those who shall follow after Jesus and the goats, those on the left who shall be cast into outer darkness and are of the devil.
So, I renew my point of how things change.
Today people want to be the GOAT but earlier times to include biblical times reflect the total opposite that people wanted to be on the right.
Like today, the bible records a time when the disciples wanted to be ranked from the greatest.
IN Luke 9:47
· 46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”
So, this urge to be called the greatest is embedded in the bible as well. They had the greatest prophet, Elijah; the greatest teacher Gamaliel; so they were trying to determine the greatest apostles.
What is the big deal in trying to be the greatest?
In trying to be the best, we can get trapped into an attitude called pride.
Pride is a two-headed beast. It certainly can be contrary to GOD’s will but it has a place in our lives as well. Consider these examples:
· Pride in your work ethics. You want to demonstrate pride in your work. Anything that has your name on it is a good product.
· If you had a partner without pride in their work, how would that impact you? This type of pride is a good thing because it provokes your very best.
· Pride in your appearance, particularly your clothing, hair and face.
· I remember when growing up and allowing my room to remain messy, Mom would say “Don’t you have any pride?” That was a statement of challenge to remind me that I needed to take care of the things that I possess so that it can have longevity. Mainly, I think about how I take care of my responsibilities is a reflection of who I am. Again, it is not the toy train but the fact that I take care of it proclaims my pride.
· Pride in your school or nation.
· While on the basketball team, my coach would motivate us to win by saying “Don’t you have any pride?” These guys are laughing at you while they are beating you on your own court. The pride he was speaking of fueled us to achieve our best.
· Pride in the accomplishments of others.
· In 2 Cor 7:4 it states “I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.”
Pride can lift you to accomplish things that you thought you couldn’t do. It feeds your self-esteem and self-respect.
However, pride has a flip side to it.
A side that does not please GOD.
· Some call this selfish pride or self-centeredness.
· Too much pride feeds into a feeling of superiority and arrogance.
· It finds itself counter to the attitude that GOD expects from HIS children.
Consider these scriptures:
In Proverbs 6:16-19
· “16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
GOD who is 100% love does not tolerant these seven abominations…it is against HIS nature/being.
· This should be enough to control our pride.
· Also, selfish pride has negative impact on the person as well.
IN PS 10:4 it states
· “In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
· This kind of haughty pride is the opposite of the spirit of humility that God seeks:
· Pride has kept many people from accepting Jesus Christ as Savior.
· Admitting sin and acknowledging that in our own strength we can do nothing to inherit eternal life is a constant stumbling block for prideful people.
In Proverbs 16:8 NKJV –
· “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”
· Solomon warns us about the pride that can blind us to reality and wrap us in a false sense of security. When we become puffed up, we begin to see ourselves as invincible or unstoppable, all-powerful, and perfect.
· Pride is giving ourselves the credit for something that God has accomplished. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and keeping it for ourselves.
· We slowly begin to ascribe to ourselves the descriptions that can only ever truly belong to God.
· God does not want His children to be living like this. He wants us to be unified, considerate, and at peace. Pride ultimately robs us of all these things.
IN Luke 14:11 NKJV –
· “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Seek after Humility because it is the ultimate act of worship. A humble heart acknowledges the role and righteousness of God; it acknowledges its own powerlessness and is completely reliant and dependent on God.
Humility leads us to trust in God’s wisdom and not our own. It fuels faith, courage, and righteousness. When we walk in these principles, we will be exalted by God. He alone has the true authority to exalt us.
Publican
Jesus is the perfect example of humility.
· “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
What does this teach?
· First, we need to have the same attitude as Christ. Not to be proud but humble servants
· Second realize that our renewed life in Christ gives us citizenship that we are not to take for granted or gloat about
· Thirdly, to empty himself willfully means that He submitted Himself to the power of the Holy Spirit and the will of the Father.
· It means that Jesus set aside His own life as an act of total obedience to the will of the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.
· Being made in the likeness, he humbled himself by showing the essence of of men veiled his deity. What pleases GOD…obedience to the point of death on the cross.
In conclusion, turn away from a prideful life that is centered on what you have accomplished. Instead accept and be proud in what GOD has done which is an act of humility. Seek humility in our lifestyle toward GOD, and in our relationships in the church and abroad.
Remember that Pride is a disease that we should seek protection by adopting the character of God. Only a love for God and the acknowledgment of His sovereignty can keep us from falling into the trap of pride, which ultimately leads us away from Him.
Who is the GOAT?
· Say it with me…
· Jesus is the Greatest of all time because of his humility and servant-like life.
Like Jesus, seek humility …
· without humility how do we find trust and faith?
· So, like love, peace, faith and trust humility is the language of GOD.
1 Pet 5:5 Clothe yourself with humility
Turn away from prideful life that is self-centered
Accept and have pride in what God has done
Demonstrate and seek humility; a GODly language
Humble yourself in the sight of the LORD and HE will life you up
Yorumlar