Against Pride

My, Devotion to Him #213

There is something in our life that is seemingly one of the biggest challenges for most of us if not all of us. And that’s pride. It somehow manages to wiggle and maneuver its way into our life and into any and every situation within us even recognizing it. When we adamantly defend a position because we just know that “we are right” pride is around. When we get frustrated with someone, pride can abound. Even in acts that are supposed to be selfless, we somehow manage to let pride gain a foothold. 

Jesus did not want us to go about proclaiming to everyone who has an ear of all the services that we have done. 

Verse Passage: Matthew 6:1-2 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” – NIV

it’s one thing to tell people about the ministry work you do or what you have done in the past but it is the motive behind the reason you are saying it that can determine if pride has wrapped itself around you. 

Jesus went further and warned about us putting ourselves on a pedestal. 

Matthew 6:3-4 “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – NIV

Pride is nasty and quick to grow and once it has gained an inch it can start taking deep roots. It works even faster when we constantly dwell on all the thing that we have done. 

Everything I ever do I thank God for allowing me to serve Him. And thank Him for giving me the opportunity. I thank Him for every Word, every message, every person that clicks this devotional or website. I praise Him even more because more and more are hearing about HIM. It’s all for Him and only for Him. I can tell you how many late nights I’ve spent writing, how many times looking over and over at the same passage. The actual process of writing these. But I do it for two reasons. One. I was told to. Second. I want to serve. The one reason is to draw others attention to HIM. I don’t go taking Facebook polls on how many people like what I write or what they think of me and then brag about it. Because I really don’t care. 

This is not to sound as if I don’t care about people. It’s that I don’t care for the attention. This has always been about HIM. 

But so many times people will bring up what they have done for Him and do it in such a way that they end up putting the spotlight on them instead of on the very person that they were doing this for. This can be done for any type of ministry work from what people would “deem” minor ministry work up to what people would “deem” major ministry work. But to God it’s all the same work. 

Even in our refusal to do certain ministry work due to the fact that we think that we are above that work is simply prideful. 

My mother cleaned the church (might I add that I was never ashamed that she did that for the church because she was doing this in service to HIM. In which this is what it is all about. There was time’s I would even help. Not because I had to but because the church has to be cleaned, and I was just happy enough to be able to do something for HIM.) She also taught classes, went on mission trips, served as a youth leader and onto youth pastor. I have even helped to mow the church’s yard, drummed, did the media, and ran the sound and I’m telling you it’s all the same work. I say this because it’s all for God and it’s all for His kingdom. Every position is valuable and every position is important. You can say that you believe it’s important but your simple refusal to work in that position because you see yourself above that position is prideful and that needs to STOP. And I actually believe that if you are not willing to do certain positions based on the notion that you are above that type of work. Then you have not right and should not be in any other church position until you have humbled your pride.

I know that seems harsh, but we are talking about a very dangerous thing here and that’s PRIDE.

I’ve had my fair share of ugly emails in the past over what I write. I don’t post them or mention it to others on Facebook, or forward the messages for others to look at so if this rubs you wrong feel free to send an email but I do ask that you pray first. I knew that what I was going to write in many of these messages would “offend” people. And many more messages will. I asked God if He really wanted me to write this stuff, because I knew what was to come not only via emails, text messages but the blatant rejection and damage others would attempt towards me. I have been turned down by so many churches who will not let me serve in a preaching position because they go onto this website and read what I write. But I continue. Even though I want to serve in a church and I know a position is awaiting me because of a word I received I continue. I do not stop and will not stop. I can’t tell you how many vulgar messages of hate, and message of wishes that were evil in which the messenger hoped would befall over me. Or how many followers of a false teacher would troll every devotional I posted. But I continue onward because I’m not trying to win a popularity contest. When instructed to obey Him we must. Even when we know what kind of backlash we might get from it. We are called to listen, obey, and act upon the instructions given to us by Him. 

Now can we get back to the message?

Jesus challenges us to quietly give ourselves in service to Him and to others as well. Because we should already know this basic truth. He knows everything and sees everything. He knows the service that you do and that others do. He appreciates and loves the service that you do for Him, His kingdom, and His agenda. There’s no need to puff yourself up and be prideful. 

Though this world may not recognize what you do and others may “deem” such work unimportant or minor in comparison to other work. He notices you. He notices what you are doing for HIM. He has already given you the Word that you need today.

Verse Passage: Matthew 6:4 “so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – NIV

Your work should be too exalt God and in service to Him and for His approval only. Do not let man assign value to work that God has already deem priceless! Each and every work or service that can be done is a ministry in itself and it is another piece that connects to His ministry and makes this whole thing work like a well oiled machine. But when we become narrow minded and see ourselves above certain work or services within the church we actually run the risk of the church crumbling and it will be in need of repair. The only way to repair this kind of damage will be to once again have a heart that is for His kingdom and a willingness to do whatever is needed no matter what kind of work or service that may be. It in it that movement that the church will run on all cylinders once again.

God bless. 

Copyright © 2019 by Jacob Olinger