Sep
18
Blinders
Filed Under Devotional
It is easily argued that pride is the source of sin. A desire to be equal to God led to the Fall. A claim to be equal to Jesus leads to Hell. Stating that man is the highest form of intelligence brought about by no intelligence whatsoever is arrogant and has led to destructive philosophies.
I really like Psalm 73 as it talks about feeling envious of those who rebel against God. It’s so easy to look at them and see unfair success and undeserved blessings. It speaks of people who are not embarrassed to be proud of themselves. They are the ones who declare knowledge and control of that which cannot be known or controlled:
“They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.” Psalm 73:8-9
This passage jumped out at me recently because it seemed to describe a particular group so clearly. Can you think of a philosophy or set of ideas that claims that mankind is in control of heaven and earth? Who has been saying that we are responsible for all that happens on and around our planet and we should try to change it? What remedy do they offer? Doesn’t the remedy sound like oppression? Don’t those folks scoff and speak with malice against anyone who dare disagree?
The Bible speaks truth in every age. These verses seem to be an excellent description of a collection of ideas that has infested our society. And, where does it start? Pride.
Instead of recognizing that we need to adapt to the changing world, pride tells us that we need to fix the world. Pride blinds us from the fact that such an approach is significantly more expensive and highly likely to fail.
Pride is not a good guide through life.
“When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them on the slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.” Psalm 73:16-18
Pride is blinding, deceptive, and will absolutely lead you to destruction. Don’t get caught up in it. Don’t let the results of it run you over.