Abandoning Arrogance
Dr. Dong-Jin Cho, executive director of the Dong-Jin Cho Missiology Research Center delivering a lecture recently at the recent Korean World Mission conference had this to say …”Seeing how Europe changed from 1910, we should pray that Korean churches do not change like Europe 100 years later,” warned Cho. “We must abandon arrogance and rely only on God.” What does it mean to rely only on God in this jet age with several props, hi tech and helps. I have often wondered why many missions in the West started so well with deep fiery preachers but somehow the work could not keep moving up and many simply slipped into decline …. In the words of Dr Cho, I sense the scriptures speaking to my spirit.
Job 5:8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: 9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: 10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: 11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
Why do many scriptures emphasize humility and what does it mean. According to wikipedia … “Humility (adjectival form: humble) is the quality of being modest and respectful. Humility, in various interpretations, is widely seen as a virtue in many religious and philosophical traditions, being connected with notions of egolessness.The term “humility” comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which may be translated as “humble”, but also as “grounded”, “from the earth”, or “low”, since it derives in turns from humus (earth). See the English humus.[1]“
Humility is related to the word humus …from the earth …low. Did you observe in Isaiah 6, the angels, as beautiful as they were and sang, still worshipped covering their face. Why do angels need to be humble? But this was the way they were accustomed to do as they brought their worship ..prostrate before God. Then I saw that God sets up on high those that be low. We know what happened to the angels that set themselves up on high. Modern arrogance argues with the timeless truths of God. In the days of David …Uzzah was struck down for a subtle embellishment. I see that trying to help God sets us immediately at the same level as God for we can only help those we at least equate ourselves to. Can we ever help the eagle we cannot even see as he soars and rests on the highest mountains or the mighty Lion searching for prey or can we help the sun burning with red heat? Yet God created these.. It is worth meditating on what it means to rely only on God and abandon the arrogance that adds a little … and in many cases, a great deal to suit the new appetite. The height of arrogance is indeed helping God. Arrogance is having or showing an exaggerated opinion of one’s own knowledge, importance, merit, ability …being overbearingly proud. Today, pride has bowed to highest levels of arrogance and presumption….as scriptures are adapted in versions …primarily for the culture’s approval.
How will God keep me humble? How must I humble myself? Who will check me if an arrogant spirit raises its head? Is it not true that the cousin of success is arrogance? How must I succeed and yet drive off the bad relatives? I perceive God trained His mighty instruments like Moses and David …over extended periods of time …most of which appeared harsh, but primarily to help them see that they are nothing compared to God … like humus and not to deviate an inch from His word. I see I am far from where I need to be. God help me. I am truly undone.
Perhaps when we eventually see that we are like the earth..like prints in the sand, that the waters can rush in and wipe off in a minute…then we would have positioned ourselves to remain useful for God for the long term.
Millions will gather (August 6th-12th, 2012) at the annual convention to mark 60 years of The Redeemed Christian Church of God – an awesome work of God moving in an emerging unlikely nation to prepare His army for Global Revival. The Theme is “Come Up Higher.”
The Author is editor of a New Christian News site – The Pilgrim Post
