April 24
“So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have only done what ought to be done.’”(Like 17:10)
Today we will pick up where we left off yesterday, trying to address the question of why does it seem like those who are suffering and going through trials can experience more victory in their lives than those of us who aren’t. We all have the same resources in Christ, but perhaps those who are at the end of themselves and are in dire circumstances realize that they don’t have room for error; they don’t view themselves as having the “spiritual capital” to survive stumbling into sin. Or God perhaps gives them a greater grace to resist.
But either way, thinking about sin from that standpoint raises the bar and proves that we who have been given great blessings should be the ones doing a better job resisting temptation. I fear that is not the case in reality, though. It is those who are humbled by trials and tribulations who fear God and obey His commandments better, I believe.
I am not in any way suggesting that we shouldn’t seek after God’s blessings and His granting of success in our endeavors. What I am saying, however, is that these blessings can also be a stumbling block if we are not careful and if we don’t watch our tendency to become proud. The way of escape, in these situations then, is to recognize our weaknesses in this regard, and recognize that when success and victory come then temptations to become proud and think we have done it ourselves and can get along just fine without God will soon follow. Immediately when we sense the pride welling up within us (I am confident that you will see it if you are aware of yourself, look for it, and ask the Lord to show it to you if you), the way of escape is to humble ourselves in gratitude and thankfulness, acknowledge that all we have and all we can do is a gift from God, and ask Him to help us not become proud and think more highly of ourselves than we ought.
I think this is a really key point, because much sin, in my opinion, comes as a result of becoming proud. And pride often comes after times of success and blessings. I have noticed this in my own life, and the scripture contains many examples of this. It is a problem with us all. Pride, which can come from material wealth, success in our work, vindication over those who oppose us, breakthroughs in overcoming difficult problems, relationships working well, and even victory over temptation, is a great open door for the temptation of pride to rear its ugly head.
A good way to prepare for these temptations of pride I believe is to carefully examine our hearts and become aware of when and how our hearts become proud, then pray to God for deliverance from these temptations, and be prepared to humble ourselves (the way of escape) whenever those proud thoughts begin to tempt us. The next time you experience victory or blessings or success, say to yourself something along the lines of what Jesus told His disciples to say to themselves: “We are unworthy slaves. We have done only that which we ought to have done.” This is one good way of escape when thoughts of pride tempt us.