Don't Fall for Pride.. Pride Goes Before Another Fall..

We all love compliments. Whether it be about our clothes, new hairdo, new car or even if it's about our character, personality - every person enjoys being appreciated for who they are or what they do. It's in our very nature. We can't help "expecting" people to say a good word for the effort we take each day. It's what motivates us, encourages us to keep doing what we do.

But the question here is, how much of pride are we falling for each time we accept a compliment?

(I will only be dealing with one aspect of pride in this blog.)

Let's analyze the situation.

I personally believe there is always something good that you can find in a person. Any person. I also agree that not everyone is perfect. Every person, unique in their own way are good at something. 

So, in the end we can safely conclude that no matter who you are, there is always something to appreciate in you. And you can take that as a compliment. :)

If someone were to sincerely give you an unexpected compliment, how would you react? For example,  "You sing so well!" or "You are such a reliable employee here, because you work hard!". Let it be in any aspect of your life. Think of the first thing you would say. Most of the time, to avoid the awkward gap of silence that can follow, we profusely thank the person. We are much too delighted, to give a second thought about what exactly we ought to be thankful for. We might, on many an occasion complete the rest of that sentence in our heads. Was it more like, "Thank you for finally noticing that about me!" or was it " Thank you. I know I earned that compliment"?

Think of those school days, when you had to do projects to submit in class. Crazy art stuff with paper cutting and painting. For those of us, who have absolutely no interest in things like that, but at the same time desperately need the Art grade, we have family to help us out. Mothers are, in a way provided for those random school projects that we need to get done before a deadline. In the end, when your project turns out to be way better than the rest of the class and you are awarded with top grades (not to mention the envious looks from your classmates!) who gets the credit?

When we know deep inside, who it was that did all the work, we wouldn't hesitate to move away from the spotlight. We might actually feel ashamed that we didn't do enough to get all that credit for ourselves.

We are living in the age of endless social media connections. In a world where, people spend so much time 'socializing' in front of a screen in their own homes/workplaces. Each picture or status we post in our space/Wall, we do it expecting our friends and acquaintances to 'tweet', 'like' or 'comment' on it. My brother Lazarus, mentioned in his blog about our daily addiction to keep checking our smartphones for notifications (read - http://bethanytidings.blogspot.in/2014/05/likesharetweet-repeat.html)

We long for people to 'like' us. Imagine! The click of a LIKE button (whether sincerely or not) is all we ask for today to get noticed. To become recognized/appreciated. That's the height of 'falling for pride'.

So how is it with God? Why do you have to give glory to Him for something that you worked so hard for? At the finish line of a race, all you would think about are those gruesome days of your training. The endless effort that you had to take, to achieve something as great as the first place in a competition.

Think of all those weight loss programs, and imagine how many days of sweating and 'burning the fat' you have to do to get to your goal, not to mention the yummy delicacies that you have to say No to, so you would gain your prize. How does God come into your picture?

My question is, why wouldn't He be in the picture? Your very existence is proof that He is working in you. The reason why you wake up every morning, is because you didn't die in your sleep and that is only because He has not given up on you. According to His schedule for you today, you will live once more in this world.

"...Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
   The days of my life all prepared
     before I’d even lived one day." Psalm 139:16 (MSG)

And if that isn't reason enough, listen to what Paul says to the Ephesians, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

If you truly believe that you were saved by grace, ("For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9)  the Scripture urges us to "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12,13 (NIV) 

I have nothing more to add to what Apostle Paul says "....Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

I have realized that quite often, I respond to compliments (out loud) with just a 'Thank You'. But I have really wished that I could have said something more. Like, "Oh! It was only because God enabled me." or maybe "It's all because of His grace." I could have easily used that opportunity to re-direct the honor to Someone who deserved it more than I did. But how can we do that without sounding so cheesy and fake? The root of that problem I have realized is the way we look at ourselves. True, in our heart of hearts, we praise God for what He has done. In the quiet of our rooms, we do shed tears of joy, while thanking Him for His mercies. So, is there any need in proclaiming it out on the streets?

That's where the Psalmist tells us, 

            "I desire to do your will, my God;your law is within my heart. I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord,as you know.I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly." Psalm 40: 8-10

The crowd we respond to are not just people from our church or family. Every person we interact with, has to hear us say it.

          "Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
                 proclaim among the nations what he has done." Psalm 9:11 (NIV)

And doesn't nature itself show you how to do it? 

          "The heavens declare the glory of God;
              the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

With absolutely no time constraints, 

               "proclaiming your love in the morning

                        and your faithfulness at night," Psalm 92:2 (NIV)

That is how and why we do it. These are but few portions from the innumerable passages in the Bible that speak of this same thing. This same concept applies to those year-end testimony meetings at church. You are truly thankful-and even if you are not-you were created for the purpose to honor and glorify your Creator. If your ego is gluing you down to your seat, then you better start praying for ways to let go of that. Remember you do not stand in a company of mere humans, but also in the presence of angels and demons alike, who watch (over) you every single day. Even as you are reading this, there are four living creatures and 24 elders worshiping the Creator incessantly. 

"And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”

And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Revelations 4: 8-11(NASB)

When we realize this truth, nothing should be able to stop us from glorifying this God. 

Therefore, watch out for moments when the ball is in your court. Consider every compliment as an opportunity to shift the focus from you to Your Savior. Remember, you can convey more in a conversation like that, than on a stage preaching for hours together about how His grace works in you. Maybe that is why God chose to make you special and unique. He would love it more than anything else to see His children being complimented even on the little things -like finishing your work on time, staying physically fit, being honest to your friend etc.

Now what about being generous in giving compliments? I strongly believe that words of praise should be conveyed appropriately to a deserving person. The Bible does tell us that encouragement should not be withheld and that every effort must be made to 'build up' and not to 'put down'.

"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 (NASB)

So, is it possible to glorify God when giving compliments? Apostle Paul did that in a very fitting manner when he wrote to the Philippians,

" Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." Philippians 1:3-6 (MSG)

Be prepared to give and receive compliments. It's better to start out small, perfect yourself in the little things, before you go out to glorify your Savior in greater things. (Matt 25:21)

Be prepared not to fall for pride, only because pride goes before another fall..

Praise God for this is the end of my lengthy blog.. :-P 

May His name alone be glorified..

#Martha