The Sin that Turned Angels into Demons: And How to Protect Yourself From It
by Tim Zello

Chapter 4
 Discern, Disarm, and Destroy
Being Overly Concerned with Self-Importance

The late theologian Lewis Smedes told the following story about Pope John XXIII. Apparently, a chief official of the diocese was continually nagging the Pope to fix this or that problem. This official lived as though he alone saw the severity of the problems facing the church and the world, as if without his warnings the church and God’s work would collapse.

Finally the Pope had heard enough. He took his over-conscientious adviser aside and made a personal confession. The Pope said that he also was tempted to sometimes live as though the fate of the world rested on his shoulders. He was helped, he said, by an angel who would sometimes appear by the side of his bed and say, “Hey there Johnny boy, don’t take yourself so seriously.”[i]

If Jesus were on earth today I believe that he would teach us a lesson similar to one he taught more than 2,000 years ago.

“A certain man was walking down the street, when robbers attacked him. They stole his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead.

A few minutes passed and a religious man went by. He saw the beaten up man in his path, ignored him, and kept on walking.

Then an important official walking by noticed the man. He went over to the man, looked at him, and then walked to the other side.

But then a compassionate stranger who was walking down the street came upon him, and when he saw the man he felt deep pity.

He knelt beside him and soothed his wounds with medicine and bandages. The stranger put the dying man in his car and took him to a hospital and cared for him until he regained consciousness.

He gave some money to the hospital and said, ‘Take care of him and if his bill is more than I gave you call me and I will pay the difference.’”

The religious man was probably on his way to a Bible study or Pastor’s conference. Or, maybe he was on his way to a church to admonish others to help hurting people. The important official probably wrote books on how society should help the less fortunate. Yet, both of them walked right by the man who had been left half dead.

One of the dangers of being overly concerned with self-importance is that it results in an inability to see, let alone address, the plight of others.In an address to new students Dr. Alexander G. Bearn, Professor Emeritus at the Cornell Medical College warned, “Beware of the fellow student or faculty member who gives himself out as a person of large importance. In the words of Van Wyck Brooks, ‘Genius and virtue are to be more often found clothed in gray hair than in peacock bright.’ It takes an immense amount of energy to keep up the appearance of greatness – more, indeed, than the great are prepared to give.”*

In his book Humility, Andrew Murray admonishes us to “listen to the words in which our Lord speaks of His relation to the Father, and how unceasingly He uses the words not, and nothing, of Himself.”[ii]

“The Son can do nothing by himself” (John 5:19).
“But by myself I can do nothing…for I seek not to please myself” (John 5:30). NIV “I do not accept praise from men” (John 5:41)
“I have come…to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want” (John 6:38). “I’m not teaching my own ideas.” (John 7:15).
“I am not here on my own” (John 7:28).
“I do nothing on my own” (John 8:28).
“I have not come on my own” (John 8:42).
“I am not seeking glory for myself” (John 8:50).
“The words I say to you are not just my own” (John 14:10).
“These words you hear are not my own.” (John 14:24).

Jesus not only told us but he also showed us how he felt about his self-importance and self-sufficiency. He made himself nothing so that God could be everything. He humbled Himself like a little child and was totally dependant upon his heavenly Father.

For those of us who think we are important and try to better position ourselves, Jesus gave the following advice, “If you are invited to a wedding feast, don't always head for the best seat. What if someone more respected than you has also been invited? The host will say, ‘Let this person sit here instead.’ Then you will be embarrassed and will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! Do this instead — sit at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place than this for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests” (Luke 14:7-11).

In Psalm 101:5 God warns, “The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure.” Solomon warned that if we don’t humble ourselves voluntarily we will be forced into humility (Proverbs 29:23). Whereas voluntary humility brings honor, forced humility brings shame. It is liberating to know that Apart from God we are nothing.

By being totally dependant upon God we can discern, disarm, and destroy pride.

 

Read Chapter 5:  Discern, Disarm, and Destroy
Having All the Answers

[i] Source obtained from the Internet at http://www.redlandbaptist.org/sermons/sermon20050424.htm (accessed on November 17, 2006)

[ii] Source obtained from the Internet at http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5f00.0565/5f00.0565.03.htm (accessed on November 18, 2006)