Pride is a millstone hung from his neck.
I think many times in my life, I’ve found myself in a place of pride. It’s sneaks up on me like a thief in the night, and suddenly I’m searching for truth to combat this lie.
The basic lie that I am better than anyone.
The lie that what I do dictates my righteousness.
The lie that other people are held to the same standard as I am.
That last one is the kicker for me. Often times I look at someone struggling in faith, or failing in a fruitless action, and my first reaction is resent or condemnation. I condemn them for not being better, and for not trying. Then my heart is stirred against them and pure love is not in me.
However, i’m not saying “I don’t abhor what is evil”, but I am saying, ”I don’t abhor a person”. It’s the simple cliche saying “hate the sin, not the sinner”.
The truth? Yes some people aren’t trying, or they aren’t meeting my expectations. Even if my expectations are biblical, my right to judge is not.
The Lord is regarding Israel in this next verse, but I think it is equally pertinent to us regarding each other.
“do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.”
Romans 11:18 ESV
We have no power alone, so how can we boast?
“For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
Romans 9:15-16 ESV
Again we are saved by the mercy of God, and that is such a gift.
We have different beliefs and different levels of faith, but how are we to judge someone’s faith when God is the mediator? Would you bring your quarrel so quickly to God to say that he should have given one person more faith than another?
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Romans 14:1-4 ESV
Again in regards to those with weak faith, we must welcome them. How can we claim to know God and his will, but then contradict it by not welcoming those whom he has welcomed? We give love to those who do not know the Lord as we evangelize, but then at the same moment, we disregard those in the household of faith.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:9-10 ESV
In regards to carrying burdens, the Lord tells us to look after those in the household of faith especially.
If you’re not able to love someone, then you are in need of some refining as well as the person you justify not loving. “Let love be genuine”.
Not obligatory, because that’s called duty.
