My Arrogant Way

(photo from eldermatthews.blogspot.com)

Have you ever been told, “It’s my way or the highway…”? Okay, perhaps you weren’t told those words, but it was made clear to you that this is how the other person felt. Perhaps you were even the person behind those words.

Am I alone in this? I think I can compromise when it’s necessary, but, I often want things my way; or – worse yet, the way I think things should be. I’m going to go out there on a limb and guess that a whole new world of possibilities will open up for me once I get it through my thick skull that my way isn’t always the only correct way, and that my perspective isn’t always the only correct perspective.

My world view is just that; mine. It’s come to my attention that I don’t see things the way everyone else does. I see them through my own, very unique perspective. It’s the only perspective that I can actually see through, unless I borrow your glasses.

I imagine that if I lived during the days of Noah, I’d be one in the crowd mocking him for his efforts. If God didn’t speak the mission to me, I wouldn’t get it.

Because God speaks to me the way He does, it’s wrong for me to presume He’ll speak to you in the exact same way. He knows how to reach me; how to soften my heart to the point where I’ll hear what He’s saying – to me.

When He speaks to you, He’ll choose whatever methods He knows will touch your heart. For me to criticize your choices without hearing what He’s spoken to you, is hurtful and even sinful. I have no place in your conversation with God, unless I’m invited into it, by both parties.

I’ll admit it; I can be quick to judge. If it’s any consolation, God’s working with me on this. And, just so you know, it’s not pleasant. But, it’s necessary. I’ll be a better woman for it. I’ll be much easier to put up with when I get these control issues in check.

True; there’s a biblical way of doing things. But, as we all know, we all see what’s written in God’s Word from our own perspective. We see it as it was taught to us or as we arrogantly presume what it means. If we haven’t prayed over it for ourselves, we truly have no idea what God wants to personally convey to us through it. His love might look different to you than it does to me; it may function differently in your life than it does mine.

However, God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), this we know. So why are we all so confused? God seeks a humble people (James 4:10). When our lofty knowledge or our ego gets in the way, confusion is bound to ensue. (Proverbs 3:5-6) He alone knows what He will speak to you. He may send others our way to confirm His Word, and to teach us His Word, but it’s up to us to pursue Him; to pursue His heart. (Isaiah 48:17)

This takes us to the sin of pride, doesn’t it? My pride tells me that my way is the right way. Being humble before God allows me to seek HIS way. And it’s His loving kindness that draws us to repentance and to seek His face; His heart; His ways. (Romans 2:4)

Father, in Jesus’ Name I beseech Thee to have Thine own way in my heart, my soul, my mind – and my life; by the power of Your Holy Spirit, I yield myself to Thee and repent of my selfishness and arrogance. Amen and amen.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” – James 4:10 (KJV) 

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) 

“Thus saith the LORD, they Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD they God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shoudest go.” – Isaiah 48:17 (KJV) 

“Or despises thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” – Romans 2:4 (KJV)

Love is.....a Challenge

This morning I was challenged to take a serious look at the famous “love chapter” in 1 Corinthians – in the Amplified version, and figure out where my weaknesses lie. Here it is so you can see what I’m looking at. Clearly, there’s a lot of room for improvement in my love life.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

 

I found my biggest areas of concern in verse 5 – sometimes I can be very petty or touchy, easily offended. I probably get resentful, too. And let’s face it, no one likes having evil done to them or to someone they love. I mean, how do you not pay attention when you’ve “suffered wrong”?

 

I can’t stop there, like most of us, I want my own way most of the time; okay, all the time. If I didn’t think my way was the best way, I wouldn’t want to do it that way either.

 

So, how do I overcome these obstacles to love?

 

First, I need to recognize when I’m behaving this way. Along with the challenge to take a look at this, came the story of a woman overcoming her vulnerable points and purposefully walking in love. It will take discipline and a conscious awareness of how I’m reacting to the people and situations around me. There’s really no excuse for “allowing them” to cause me to not walk in love. Like the woman who overcame, I need to keep this issue in front of my face. She posted note cards all over the place, reminding her to watch out for her pitfalls and convicting her when the feelings came to behave in an unloving way. (Unloving as in not loving like God wants us to love.) So note cards might be helpful – but I have to be willing to notice them.

 

I can be stubborn, hence, that part about doing things my way. My way leads to destruction and death. (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 NIV) I can’t just quote those scriptures if I’m not going to live like I believe them. This is going to take some exercise. I’m not fond of exercise…..