Let’s make things simple today. In the center of the word, sin, is an “I”. Sin is living, being, and acting independently of God, His Word, and His will. I will do it “my” way. Without saying it, your lifestyle tells God to “stay in heaven where You belong. I neither need Your advice nor Your guidance,”
In the middle of the word pride is an “I”. The Bible warns us about pride., “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride is all about me, myself, and I.
1 John 2:16 describes what the world is all about…“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
- The world is all about the satisfaction of my lustful desires that must be experienced whether it hurts others or not. It may even hurt yourself, but you think that it is well worth it. “My” selfish desires come before others. This could be an extra-marital affair, porn, an addictive drug, overeating, etc. that can be rationalized because it is self-satisfying. The lust of the flesh has killed a lot of marriages, destroyed a lot of kids, and led to personal destruction.
- The lust of the eyes is something you want in this world…a car, a new house, etc. I remember sitting in a sandwich shop om a Friday afternoon with a good friend just south of an airport. Every time a private jet flew over our heads, he would say out loud, “that plane is headed to Cabo, Cancun, Puerto Vallarte,” or some other exotic vacation locations. It became evident that his eyes greatly desired a lifestyle similar to the individuals who had their own personal jets. A few months later he rationalized the purchase of his own jet. Not many years after that, the cost of that jet jeopardized him financially. How many times have you rationalized the “lust of the eyes” that later cost you a ton of personal issues?
- The pride of life is all about stature. It is a job title, a country club, the community where one lives, status, educational accolades, etc. Pride is often resident with these folks. Jesus talked assertively to religious leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees) who thought they were high and mighty, but Christ called it spiritual bankrupt.
Paul the Apostle, a Jewish Who’s Who…the best education, an elite recognized scholar, a fiery orator, and greatly elevated Jewish leader on the rise, was reduced to a servant of the almighty God who struck him blind while he was on a trip to kill the low life Christians. After he was able to see again, he saw with new eyes. He humbly recognized that he had “I” problems much more than eye problems. In Galatian 2:20, he states, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul had an “I” problem. He recognized that the kingdom of God was not about “I” but all about Jesus. This mighty man of God reduced himself down to this statement, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified”(1 Corinthians 2:2)
Like Paul, you may have “I” problems. Do you need to get your “I’s” checked?
Barnabas Man 