ARROGANCE AND HUMILITY

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You have heard of the title Pharisee and it most likely makes you think of pride personified.  And rightly so because when it came to sacrifice, they were kings of the temple...they gave a tenth of everything they received...not just a tenth of everything they earned.

It was said of them, "they even tithe their herbs."

And there were more excesses… The Torah called for fasting only on special festivals,  but not the Pharisees,  they went for spiritual overkill for they fasted twice a week; every Monday and every Thursday...

 

And then they basked in the reputation all this sacrifice gained for them….enjoyed every minute of it and went back for more.

 

So, that which was essentially good lost much of its goodness because it was swallowed up in a tsunami of spiritual swagger.

Praise and pride... they are so difficult to handle without contaminating us...letting us view our accomplishments through distorted magnifying glasses. 

A prime example: During the Beatles heyday, John

Lennon, stated that they were more popular than Jesus Christ.

 

Then there was Voltaire, the atheist,  who almost destroyed France with his twisted philosophies. He was going to rid that nation of every Bible and dethrone God. 

 

He boasted that within 100 years there wouldn't be left one Bible left in France, except in some dusty old museums.

 

But before his death, he lost his mind.

 

When the doctor, nurse or friends would enter his room, he would shrink back into his bed and shriek "The Nazarene.  The Nazarene."

The nurse attending him declared that for all the money in France she would never again nurse another dying infidel.

 

And just before he did die, he cried out, "Thou hast conquered, thou Nazarene."

 

Ironically, the house in which Voltaire lived was purchased 100 years later and became a Bible Publishing house.  

And think on this… surgeons do save countless lives, but never do they create even one single life...and they must remember that, otherwise they will be consumed by deteriorating pride.

A truly humble man is hard to find… yet God delights

to honor such selfless people.

Booker T. Washington, the renowned black educator, was an outstanding example of this truth.

 

Shortly after he took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman.

 

Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her.

 

Because he had no pressing business at that moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested.

 When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace.

A little girl recognized him and later revealed his identity to the lady.

 

The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the Institute and apologized profusely.

 

"It's perfectly all right, Madam," he replied. "Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor.  Besides, it's always a delight to do something for a friend."

 

She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his gracious attitude and response had endeared him and his work to her heart.

 Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute.

 

With our titles and our power and our education and our successes and just plain over-zealous pride over everything and anything, we need to be careful lest we think too highly of ourselves...well beyond what these gifts deserve.

 

And so by way of considering... the earth gives forth water and the seeds we plant then grow into trees and all kind of harvests...

and from the oils and minerals in the soil, we create so

much... but if we are not careful, we can boastfully forget who really created the earth and all therein...and end up being prideful fools for such forgetfulness.

       The Bible thrusts upon us the following truths...

Proverbs 11:2  When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Psalm 18:27  You (God) save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
Psalm 149:4  He (God) crowns the humble with salvation.
James 4:10  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

So why don't we chase after humility and accept it on bended knee?

 

Ah, the answer is simple enough.  "We'd like to be humble, but what if no one notices?"  (John Ortberg)

(to be continued)

 

 

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CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick  

 

Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  

 

·         Many Kinds of Slavery - But Are They Not All Very Much The Same? (July 2012)

·         Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

·         Spring (May 2012)

·         Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

·         Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

 

       GO TO AMAZON.COM TO PURCHASE Neil's best selling book"THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN" that is still receiving rave reviews 8 years after it's publication.

 

       "Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understaning and appreciation of Lincoln...(Lt. Colonel C.A.Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)

 

       "Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.  (Maynard Pittendreigh, Presbyterian Minister)

 

       "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN is an extremely well written book...it is both scholarly and very readable.  I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of that President with an altered and enlarged vision of the man. (William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer, author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn.)  

                          

GO TO SPEAKER.NEIL TO SEE NEIL'S ONE MAN AWARD WINNING DRAMATIZATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

                  &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

       Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER

 

       CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

 

       http://www.speakerneil.com/

 

       V. Neil Wyrick’s ninth book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN and is available at MAGNUS PRESS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM’S Kindle

 

http://www.magnuspress.com/OurProducts2.html 

   

CONFLICT MISMANAGEMENT...WHY CAN'T WE GET ALONG?

A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 

If you want to share this blog with a friend go to the bottom of these comments and click on TELL A FRIEND

The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.

GO TO NEIL’S OTHER BLOG ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS and read the following brain teasers.  CLICK ON URL BELOW

http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

 
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(a continuation of Why Can't We Get along?)

Abraham Lincoln knew the power of words, his and the other individuals.  “When I’m getting ready to reason with a man,” he said, “I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I’m going to say and two-thirds thinking about him and what he is going to say."

 

_

Too many never consider the other persons point of view… in which case guess whose point of view most people hold on to.

 

You’ve got a conflict in your life and you really do want to sweep it away?  Well…

 

Just remember, “If the strands in the broom do not reconcile, you cannot very well sweep with it.”

 

Right now we have an excellent example of what can happen when conflict gets out of hand and no one is

willing to listen to anyone.

 

All we have to do is look north to Washington.

 

Good, intelligent men and women on both sides who speak from their mouths straight to their own ears without pausing to let any other ideas come filtering through.

 

Drawing a line in the sand as if they were God himself who was making the decisions.

 

And as I watch them, not as a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent, I am reminded that conflict is not wrong…just how we handle it too often is.

 

Without conflict there would be no New Testament…

 

No revelation…

 

Conflict arises from our unmet desires colliding with each other…

 

When we feel we cannot be satisfied until we get what we want…our desires turn into demands..and when that happens there is no chance for reconciliation…

 

People stop talking to each other and rather talk at each other…

 

And like a chest cold, the longer a problem exists, the worse it gets.

 

And I am reminded of some more wise words in Proverbs “… He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame.” (NIV) Pro. 18:13

 

Turning a disagreement into open conflict and finally into a feud that might outlast the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s, requires an angry dedication to hardheadness that makes no room for forgiveness...but all the room in the world for arrogance.

 

And the devil loves these kind of folk, those with loud voices and clinched fists…those who are not happy unless they are mad at someone.

 

He hates hands extended in prayers for peace and reconciliation and those who plant flowers instead of bombs.

 

And then there was the ultimate conflict with the ultimate end…the cross on a Golgotha hill.

 

“Pardon him” was the cry from some.

 

“Crucify him” was the cry from others.

 

And Pilate became a symbol of all the times men and women have washed their hands of some hateful conflicting affair.

 

Took the easy way out…except as history has come to show…it was not the easy or best way at all.

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CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick 

Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  REFLECTIONS

·         Many Kinds of Slavery - But Are They Not All Very Much The Same? (July 2012)

·         Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

·         Spring (May 2012)

·         Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

·         Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

GO TO ONE A DAY YOUR SPIRUTAL VITAMINS...Neil's other blog...over 900 stories and comments...

click on the URL below

                        http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

 

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GO TO AMAZON.COM TO BUY NEIL WYRICK'S THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN...still receiving RAVE REVIEWS 8 years after it's publication.

 

        "Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understaning and appreciation of Lincoln...(Lt. Colonel C.A.Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)

        "Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.  (Maynard Pittendreigh, Presbyterian Minister)

        "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN is an extremely well written book...it is both scholarly and very readable.  I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of that President with an altered and enlarged vision of the man. (William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer, author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn.)                                             

GO TO SPEAKER.NEIL TO SEE NEIL'S ONE MAN AWARD WINNING DRAMATIZATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

  CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

 

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BELOW...ON... ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS BLOG....PAST POSTINGS

“WHICH IS BETTER TO BE?  A WINDOW OR A DOOR” ” “BE A RAINBOW SEARCHER AND FINDER” “IS YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION?

Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER

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          V. Neil Wyrick’s ninth book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN and is available at MAGNUS PRESS

          AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM’S Kindle

            http://www.magnuspress.com/OurProducts2.html 

ARROGANCE AND HUMILITY

A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 

If you want to share this blog with a friend go to the bottom of these comments and click on TELL A FRIEND

       The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.

TO GO TO NEIL’S OTHER BLOG ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS and read inspiring stories and comments to set you thinking. CLICK ON URL BELOW

http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

Proverbs 25:6

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,

and do not claim a place among great men;

it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”

than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.

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When you think wisdom quite possibly you think of wise ole Solomon, the son of King David.  And this morning’s scripture is but one of over... three thousand such wisdom thoughts from out his fertile mind.    

       "Do not exalt yourself..."

       In Hebrew exalt carries a heavy handed meaning - "swelling up"...like in what can happen to all of us...if we "get a big head." 

       And then the scripture reads, "Do not claim a place among great men..."

All around Solomon were those who did just that...claimed to be great...indeed to such a degree that if an award were given, they felt certain they deserved it most.

       Oh, how easily it happens...when fueled by arrogance and self-satisfaction, to then become a self-serving and self-appointed know-it-all.  To give out high and mighty advice to someone who has not even asked for it....

       And then actually get angry when people don't take your advice.

       Perhaps you have heard the account of the fellow who attempted to give such advice on the subject of humility...by writing a book about it.

       However, he ran into trouble choosing a title for his book. "Humility and How I Attained It" somehow didn't seem to fit; nor did "How I Became Humble."

       He finally decided on "Me and My Humility" -- and then so you would recognize this purveyor of such wisdom should you happen to meet him on the street.., he included a twelve full-page pictures of himself! 

Humility...if you think you have it...you are probably in danger of losing it.

       An admirer once asked the famous orchestra conductor Leonard Bernstein what was the most difficult instrument to play.

       He responded with quick wit: "Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm or second French horn or second flute, now that's a problem...

       And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony."

       Ah, what a terrible FATHER pride is...as it begets bitterness, anger, jealousy, resentment...the list goes on and on. ..until it ends with the final word STUPIDITY underlined and in capital letters.

Warning...when I say "humility" you most likely think

of being a doormat... wrong thought.

       Rather think of humility as a threshold to a door to learning… because a humble person is willing to admit they don't know it all.  A humble person is an ongoing student.

       What's another good thing about being humble?

       Humble people get to know and understand others better because they are willing to deal with them as equals rather than play the role of the arrogant divider.

       In short, don't live as if the world revolves around you...but rather that you and others are living on this same revolving globe ...with each of you learning from and teaching each other all at the same time.

       The bowl was full and so was His heart; a heart full of love and humility and sadness for soon the hands that held the bowl would be pierced and He would die... and there in the upper room, the bowl was filled with water, ready, as was the custom, so that a servant could wash the feet of the seated guests.

       When the disciples entered the room, arrogance was in full bloom as they loudly argued who was the greatest among them...and therefore who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven...

       It would be a cold day on the sands of the Sahara before any of them would even think about

washing of these feet dirtied by Jerusalem's  streets... To perform such a menial task would be demeaning. And in particular since they were the twelve chosen ones.

       An inferiority complex was certainly the last thing they were suffering from.

       So the son of man and the Son of God did what they could not – would not do, removed His outer cloak... tied a towel around His waist... knelt down and began to wash their feet...and His humility was a lesson devoutly made.

       Oh, He had tried to teach them this lesson many, many times before...the importance of servitude...but it was just as hard a lesson for the disciples to accept then… as it is for you and me to accept today....

       But then they finally got it – the big picture.  Or as Mark describes it in chapter 10 verse 45, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 

       You most likely do not attend a foot washing church... but for the sake of inward discussion, think about it... how would you feel if I asked you to wash my feet? … Or if I asked you to allow me to wash yours? (that is assuming of course that we could solve our present problem of time and space)

       Oh, I know at least for some it would be embarrassing.  I can understand that – never have done it myself.

       And for others, PRICKLY PRIDE WOULD RISE

UP… and…well… it is hard to wash another's feet                                                                                          when you're standing on a pedestal.

       And, oh yes, please remember...Jesus washed ALL their feet...EVEN THE FEET of Judas.

(to be continued)

 

ANOTHER WAY TO SHARE THESE ONE A DAYS WITH FREIENDS...CLICK ON "MORE" AT TOP LEFT OF THIS BLOG PAGE AND  FROM THERE IT SHOULD BE EASY

 

                                            ++++++++

CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick  

 

Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  

·         Many Kinds of Slavery - But Are They Not All Very Much The Same? (July 2012)

·         Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

·         Spring (May 2012)

·         Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

·         Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

 

       GO TO AMAZON.COM TO PURCHASE Neil's best selling book"THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN" that is still receiving rave reviews 8 years after it's publication.

 

       "Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understaning and appreciation of Lincoln...(Lt. Colonel C.A.Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)

 

       "Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.  (Maynard Pittendreigh, Presbyterian Minister)

 

       "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN is an extremely well written book...it is both scholarly and very readable.  I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of that President with an altered and enlarged vision of the man. (William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer, author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn.)  

                          

GO TO SPEAKER.NEIL TO SEE NEIL'S ONE MAN AWARD WINNING DRAMATIZATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

                  &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

       Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER

 

       CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

 

       http://www.speakerneil.com/

 

       V. Neil Wyrick’s ninth book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN and is available at MAGNUS PRESS

 

       AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM’S Kindle

 

http://www.magnuspress.com/OurProducts2.html