Morning Moments

Isaiah 2:11-12 (GW)
11 The eyes of arrogant people will be humbled. High and mighty people will be brought down. On that day the LORD alone will be honored.
12 The LORD of Armies will have his day against all who are arrogant and conceited and all who are proud of themselves (they will be humbled),

Success and Celebrity far to often are accompanied by arrogance and conceit. It happens with athletes, actors, politicians, and just about anybody in the limelight. It doesn't have to be and it isn't true with every famous and successful person, but there is something about pride that swells in position and prosperity.

All this began with the anointed cherub, Lucifer, whose heart became filled with pride and whose desire was to usurp the authority of God. God's Word teaches us that pride goes before a fall, and a haughty spirit before destruction.

Imagine how smart Bernie Madoff thought he was when he was making untold millions at the expense of people who trusted him. This spirit does not settle merely on money matters. I believe it has come to reside in ministry matters also.

The Scripture says, "Knowledge puffeth up", and that is pride which leads to arrogance. It is why Paul said a pastor is not to be a novice, lest he be lifted up with pride and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

I spoke this week with a medical doctor friend of mine and expressed my grief that the three most respected men in any community were the doctor, lawyer, and preacher, but that has changed. All three are the brunt of jokes and often held in disdain. How sad! Many men of these professions have become elitists who think they are above the average person. It becomes harder all the time to see anyone of them without it costing money or waiting days and weeks for a simple conversation.

Recently my son in law's grandfather died. The family sought for a preacher to conduct the funeral in the Atlanta area. I was to be in Kansas City so it was not possible for me to do it. My daughter tried for several days just to get a church and a preacher. When she called the church where her children go to school, some minister on staff spoke to her so rudely and asked, "Why can't your father do it, is he disabled? He was so rude to her she wept and replied, "My father has been a pastor for almost forty five years and I have never heard him speak so rudely to anyone. He has always gone out of his way to help people he need whether they went to his church or not. What has become of the ministry?"

The is becoming the norm, not the exception. It is pathetic and God will bring our little thrones and kingdoms down according to His Word. We can play our golf or fish in our expensive bass boats or sail the seas or fly to the moon, but if we follow Jesus, we have time for people - all people - all races - churched and non-churched. Jesus came to seek - not to hide in some throne room at the expense of those in need.

May God help us to see our pride and arrogance before He brings the judgment He has promised.

Micah 6:8 (KJV)
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Blessings!