Lesson for May 11, 2022
Arrogance vs. Humility
Proverbs 6:16-19,“These six things the Lord hates; indeed, seven are repulsive to Him: A proud look [the attitude of arrogance that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue,and hands that shed innocent blood (murder), a heart that creates wicked plans, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths] and one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers (believers).”
Arrogance is saying that we don’t need God or His plan; that we have a plan of our own. Arrogance is part of all sin if we really examine it. Anytime we commit a sin we are in essence saying that our way is better than God’s way.
This is exactly what Satan (Lucifer) did in eternity-past when he rebelled against God. We find a reference to this in Isaiah 14:12-14. This is commonly called “The Five I Wills of Satan.” The amazing thing is that Satan is still arrogant, even after his fall. However, it should not be surprising to us that Satan is still an arrogant being considering he attempted to overthrow God. Arrogance comes in many forms: self-justification, self-deception, self-absorption, and self-righteousness.
Self-justification is illustrated for us in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. According to Genesis 3:8-13, Adam blamed Eve for his failure and Eve blamed Satan. We would say today in our vernacular “It’s not my fault, the devil made me do it.” Or “I’m a victim of my environment” or “I have a disease” or “it’s my parents’ fault.” Self-justification rejects any personal responsibility for the actions of a person. Self-justification is a dangerous form of arrogance. Just look what it led to in the Garden of Eden!
Self-deception is another deadly form of arrogance as we see from I John 1:8-10. When a person is involved in practicing any pattern of sin over a prolonged period of time, it is easy to deceive oneself into believing that what is being done is not sin at all. Self-deception can also be thinking about yourself in a conceited manner. For example, thinking that you are better, holier, more spiritual, or closer to God than other believers. Self-deception can lead a person right into self-absorption.
Self-absorption is total preoccupation with self. The scriptural illustration of this form of arrogance is the Rich Young Ruler of Matthew 19:16-22. Here we have a story of a man that came to Jesus asking what he could do to inherit eternal life. Jesus illustrated to this man that he was a sinner in need of a Savior. It was the Rich Young Ruler’s self-absorption that kept him out of Heaven. Blinded by his riches and possessions, he was unwilling to recognize his need for a Savior.
He was much like the Scribes and Pharisees (the religious leaders of Israel at the time of Christ), which were full of themselves to the point of having their consciences seared (unable to recognize their own sinfulness). We, as believers in Christ, are to be occupied with Christ, not ourselves. (Philippians 2:5: Hebrews 12:2)
Self-righteousness runs rampant in society, especially in religious organizations. Self-righteous arrogance totally ignores God’s righteousness in an attempt to establish one’s own righteousness. Paul recognized it in the nation of Israel in Romans 10:2-3. What we need to realize is that as believers in Jesus Christ we already possess God’s righteousness. Any attempt on our part to establish our own human righteousness as a means of gaining God’s favor and/or eternal life is a waste of valuable time. Instead, we could be using that time to build our lives on God’s righteousness already resident in our souls.
God is not impressed with our human righteousness before or after salvation. God is impressed only with His own righteousness, which we possess, and this is the only means of blessing from Him. In other words, God blesses us based on His integrity, His righteousness, and His justice. If we want increased blessing from God, we must increase our capacity to receive blessing from God, by the consistent study and application of His Word. God’s blessings are always given by means of His grace.
Grace is all that God is free to do for a believer because of Jesus Christ. Grace is neither deserved nor earned. God’s grace is not only the basis for salvation, it is also the basis for the Christian Way of Life. Understanding the grace of God and how it works in our lives, eliminates all self-righteous arrogance.
How can we recognize self-righteousness in our lives? Our attitude towards others and towards God is an indicator. When our attitude towards others is one of criticism and/or judgment of others’ failures, whether real or imagined, we are exhibiting self-righteous arrogance. Remember, it is not our job as Christians to criticize or judge others. We need to take care of our own spiritual lives and leave the lives of other believers in the hands of God. I Thessalonians 4:11-12 says, “Make it your ambition to live quietly and
peacefully, and to mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we directed you, so that you will behave properly toward unbelievers [exhibiting good character, personal integrity, and moral courage worthy of the respect of the outside world], and be dependent on no one and in need of nothing [be self-supporting].”
If our attitude toward God is “look what I have done for you,” we are exhibiting self-righteous arrogance. Why? Because we are attempting to force God to love us or bless us based on our human works and efforts. What is the opposite of “works?” Grace, of course! Instead of trying to coerce God by our “good deeds,” we need to learn, believe, and apply the Word of God.
When God’s system of grace is properly applied to our lives, we realize that the only reason we are alive and sustained is due to the righteousness of God indwelling us. This is the only way that we are going to be able to relax and enjoy our lives as believers. When you are under pressure to “perform,” you are normally miserable, especially if you feel you will never measure up to God’s perfect standards. So, the key to victory over arrogance is humility.
Humility is a mental attitude of grace. Being humble is being grace oriented to life. Humility recognizes that everything in life depends on Who God is and what He has done for us. Humility causes believers to think correctly about themselves. For example, they know that their production as believers is by means of the filling of the Holy Spirit, which is a grace function. They also know that everything they are and everything they have is because of God’s matchless grace. Therefore, they can be relaxed, confident and single-minded about life. Humility recognizes the rights of others, eliminating both inferiority and superiority complexes, which means our attitude should be one of “live and let live.” (I Corinthians 4:7; Galatians 5:22-23; James 1:17)
Humility greatly increases the learning of Bible doctrine because it means that we are teachable. Arrogant believers think they already know all they need to know. Humble believers recognize that they will never know it all but will continue to study and learn in order to gain more and more spiritual maturity.
Romans 12:1-3 “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world system, but be transformed by the renovation of your thinking, that you may discover what the good and perfect will of God is for you. For through the grace that is given to me I say to every person among you to stop thinking of self in terms of arrogance, but to think in terms of sound judgment (humility) since God has allotted to each of us a measure of faith.”