PrideGlorifying Ourselves One of the guests on a late-night talk show was a bodybuilder. The host asked the weight lifter if he would show off his muscles to the audience. With a big grin on his face, the bodybuilder faced the audience and cameras, flexing his muscles. "Boy,” the host said, “you sure do have the muscles. What do you use all of those muscles for?" The bodybuilder didn't answer, but continued to flex and smile at the audience. Again the host asked, "What do you use those muscles for?" Still grinning, the muscleman remained silent and continued to show off. The answer was obvious. He didn't use his muscles to do any useful work, but only to glorify himself. Tickling the Ham Someone once said that a diploma is like the curl on the tail of a pig. It doesn’t mean very much, but it sure does tickle the ham to which it is attached. (Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, p. 132)My Will Be Done Pride says to itself, "My will be done." Humility says to God, "Thy will be done." (Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, p. 129)Looking Down on Others During Sunday school, a teacher told the children in her class about the Pharisee and the tax-gatherer praying in the temple (Luke Are you a chicken or a salmon? A chicken lays one egg and cackles about it, while a salmon lays ten thousand eggs and doesn’t say a word. (Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, p. 131)I Am the Greatest Former heavyweight boxing champion boasted, “I am the greatest.” The apostle Paul boasted, “I am the least.” (Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, p. 130)How to Identify Pride Pride loves to be worshipped and is greatly offended when it is overlooked. (Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, p. 125)Love to be Recognized Diotrephes is described as someone who lived “to be first” (3 John 1:9). The late A. T. Robertson once wrote an article about Diotrephes for a religious publication. He renamed him, updated his story using present day terms, and labeled him the “church boss.” Dr. Roberston reported later that twenty deacons had canceled their subscriptions because they thought the article was a personal attack on them. (Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, p. 126)I Love Those Inferior People Archie Bunker once said, “I’m not prejudiced. I love all those inferior people.” (Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, p. 130)Cross Reference:You are not as smart as you think
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