More Important Than...

Do you remember the apostles’ argument about who was the greatest among them?

(Read about it in Luke 9:46-48.)

Jesus used a child as an object lesson on humility. I can only imagine that the apostles felt ashamed.

Have you ever been in a situation when someone else was receiving the attention and you were being left out? Perhaps they received recognition when you had also made sacrifices. Perhaps someone was promoted, but you were overlooked even though you knew that you were equally or better qualified. Perhaps you have been overlooked at home for doing all kinds of mundane tasks you perform…repeatedly. You want to feel appreciated; you want to know that you are important.

What would happen if everything were reversed? Really reversed!?

Married couples, what if you came home and greeted your spouse as if he/she were more important than yourself: “You are more important than my needs. What can I do for you?”

Instead of insisting that your needs be met; instead of struggling to be appreciated, instead of manipulating things for your personal advantage, instead of forcing your responsibilities onto someone else, instead of rationalizing your own importance...what if you literally adopted the attitude that your spouse is of greater importance than you?

It is a rather expensive prospect. By that I mean that your spouse could take advantage of you, your time, your energy. You might forfeit some relaxation; forfeit your favorite television show or ball game; forfeit some personal reading or computer time; forfeit an activity with your friends. You might find yourself doing some tasks that you normally leave for your spouse. You might attend a function/dinner/outing that you would not prefer. You might need to keep the kids or entertain your in-laws. You might have to spend your money on your spouse to buy something he/she needs instead of what you want. You might have to listen when you think you already know.

It could be expensive but...what if?

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.

—Philippians 2:3

The apostle Paul did not write this specifically to married couples, but to all followers of Jesus. This is the key that unlocks contentment. It applies to all of our relationships: spouse, parent, child, fellow believer, elder, Bible class teacher, class participant; young, old; single, married; adults, someone else’s children; the list goes on and on.

It is natural to want to be treated as important by other people. However, I think that most of us would feel just a little embarrassed if someone said aloud: “You are more important than I.”

Knowing God's plan which would require His death, Jesus prayed to God asking if there was any other way than the cross. Even without a recorded answer in scripture, we know the answer was, “No.” Yet, Jesus was determined to do God’s will.

Jesus regarded you as more important than Himself and He died in your place. Jesus came to your home (earth) and said, “You are more important than I.” And He has turned the world upside down with that attitude!

What if…
              ...in this world…
                                         ...we acted just like Jesus?

What IF...?

Mark Stinnett

January 14, 2024

The Proud, The Lowly and The Blessed

In the course of a conversation with his boss, my friend was asked about his loyalty to our school Superintendent. My friend then asked a clarifying question, “Are you asking me if I would lie for the Superintendent?”

Regardless of how the question was asked, my friend recognized that loyalty to the established hierarchy had been elevated above morality. He looked for another job.

When you think about my friend’s conversation with his new boss, the question was not really about loyalty, but about control. The boss was trying to discover if he could control my friend.

Throughout the ages mankind has attempted to take control. Men and women have coveted positions of authority. Lacking authority many have turned to strength or the use of money.

If you don’t have authority or strength or money, beauty and charm may work. For others, intellect is a sure bet. Just think about the use of statistics. After gathering all kinds of information it is processed and analyzed and then used to predict future outcomes. Decisions are no longer based on chance or ‘gut feelings’ but statistical probabilities...and statistics don’t lie!

Mankind is interested in anything that will give him greater control over his circumstances, and that includes control over people. Those who prize control often exploit weaknesses in people, loopholes in legal code, and even popular opinion in order to manipulate others.

Solomon wrote about all this…

Pride goes before destruction, 

   and a haughty spirit before a fall.

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor 

   than to divide the spoil with the proud. 

 —Proverbs 16:18-19

The one who thinks he can take control of his life is naïve. He is full of pride.

So, is the proverb a natural truth, like gravity? Is it the case that those with a haughty spirit will fall because that is God’s design, just like gravity is God’s design? Or is it more the case that the prideful person will eventually fall as a result of divine judgment?

Both views are relevant. There are cases in which the prideful person is destroyed as a matter of how things work in this world. Yet, it is also true that ultimately God will condemn those who are full of pride regardless of their experience on earth.

Those with a lowly spirit are compared to those who “divide the spoil” (or plunder). This refers to those who overpower and take material wealth through immoral activity.

Solomon said it is better to reside with the humble. The idea is that it is better to choose righteousness and be content with poverty, than to obtain wealth immorally.

So, why would a person turn to immoral activity to obtain wealth? Isn’t it a matter of faith? Either they do not believe God can/will fill their needs or they do not think God will fill their needs to their satisfaction. Lacking faith, they pridefully take control of life’s circumstances! Yet, God opposes the proud. (James 4:6)

Finally, Solomon does not just denounce pride, he points to the way of life:

Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, 

   and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. 

 —Proverbs 16:20

The Lord’s way provides real confidence in life. The blessed will walk by faith, not by sight.

Mark Stinnett

June 11, 2023

What Are Your Plans?

She shook my hand, and, almost stammering, finally said, “I really wanted to complement you on today’s sermon...I just don’t want you to get a big head.” She grew up learning the danger of pride. She was being careful to guard against putting a stumbling block in front of me by tempting me with pride.

I jokingly assured her that I would not take what she said seriously. (We laughed.)

I accept heartfelt compliments and take them seriously because I have walked in those shoes. What I mean is that I have listened to teachers and preachers who have opened God’s word to my mind in such a meaningful and exciting way that I have expressed my thanks with personal compliments.

Even so, that particular Sunday has stuck with me. The problem of pride is very real, and my older friend understood. She also understood how much more problematic pride is for youth. Lacking the breadth of knowledge and wisdom gained only with passing time, young people, especially those in their teens and twenties , but even in their thirties, can easily fall into pride.

I sometimes cringe when I hear graduating seniors speak of their immediate and future plans. They tell of all the things they will be and do. Some talk about post-graduation education, others, employment. Some talk about why they will engage in their next endeavor, a stepping stone to something greater, job security, a sizeable income, great service to others, etc.

I suppose it is not surprising that I have never heard a young person say that he/she aspires to be righteous or to be godly. The reason? That doesn’t seem to be a lofty goal in life.

Loftiness. That’s the real problem. Whenever a person lifts himself up he is in trouble. Several related words appear in the book of Proverbs: pride, arrogance, haughtiness, boasting. Each has something to do with elevating oneself. Listen to Solomon’s wisdom:

Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

—Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)

One’s pride will bring him low,

But he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. 

 —Proverbs 29:23 (ESV)

Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

The lamp of the wicked, are sin.

—Proverbs 21:4 (ESV)

Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of your body” (Luke 11:34). That seems to be what Solomon meant, only he was specifically focused on haughty eyes. So, he called them “the lamp of the wicked.” Notice that pride and haughtiness are not merely things that are not recommended or unwise, they are sin.

Do you want to talk about your plans? Great!

Do not boast about tomorrow,

For you do not know what a day may bring. 

 —Proverbs 27:1

Talk about your plans. Just remember, you do not know if you will wake up tomorrow. Humbly tell people, “This is what I am planning to do.” Do not boast in the uncertainty of tomorrow.

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, 

but a fool is reckless and careless. 

 —Proverbs 14:16

Turn away from boastful words. It is a fool who is reckless and careless in what he says. Do not sin by prideful boasting.

Mark Stinnett

June 4, 2023

((( Us ))) . . . & . . . >>>>>> Them

God hates division.

Yet, there is one kind of division that is more subtle and, in comparison, seems mild, perhaps even tolerable. Two or more people stand in agreement, but look down on those who do not agree with them. Everyone still meets together, worships together, works and eats together, but there exists an attitude of superiority on the part of some. Christians judge other Christians.

That was the kind of division that the Apostle Paul addressed in the church at Rome. (See Romans 14.) The issue was about eating meat that was unclean.

I don’t think we have judgmental attitudes in our day when it comes to food. However, Paul’s teaching can be applied broadly whenever an “Us & Them” attitude develops over matters of conscience. Consider Paul’s teaching and think about areas in which it might apply in your life or in your congregation.

Paul addressed the meat issue in verse two:

One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.

The one “who is weak” is not an immature Christian or someone about to turn away from Christ. The weakness refers to his conscience that causes guilt feelings if he eats the meat. However, others in the same congregation felt that they had the liberty to eat meat; no guilt.

For illustration purposes I'll use the terms carnivore and vegetarian, though they do not fit precisely. So, the carnivores looked down on the vegetarians thinking that they should just ‘get over’ their objection and join them in eating meat. However the vegetarians could not eat the unclean meat as a matter of conscience. Of course, the vegetarians, because of their strict moral belief, judged the carnivores, thinking the carnivores should give up meat to be righteous. Paul instructed:

The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

An “Us & Them” atmosphere had developed in the church at Rome. It was a mild kind of division, but it was division and it was destructive.

Division diverts all attention to the problem. It causes a church to stagnate and lose effectiveness. Often outsiders know there are problems.

How did Paul resolve the problem in Rome?

He acknowledged that eating the meat was OK (v. 14). (Those silly vegetarians now know what is correct.) Problem solved, right? Wrong!

Knowledge was not the issue, but rather a moral conviction, i.e. the conscience. So in verse 21 Paul instructed:

It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

Paul instructed Christians that they must not violate their conscience. To do so is sin (v. 23). So, there is a responsibility for every Christian to insure that he does not cause a fellow Christian to stumble by violating his conscience.

Our elders need to be watching out for early signs of division. As a preacher, I want to keep us alert as a congregation so that we can each guard against division. Do you know where division starts???

Paul answered that question succinctly in a companion passage that also deals with division: 

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
—1 Corinthians 8:1 (NASB95)

Mark Stinnett

November 15, 2020

The Fellowship of Contentment and Humility

Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest boxers of all time. There might have been legitimate reasons for his boasting. However, to many people it was distasteful pride.

I think that, in general, people do not enjoy hearing the boasts of the strong, the powerful, the rich, the privileged. Most often it comes across as a superior attitude. It is as if the one boasting is telling everyone, "I'm better than everyone else; I'm better than YOU."

We prefer the sport star who excels yet gives credit to his teammates and coaching staff; not the one who soaks in the praise of others and then announces with pride, "Yeah, I'm all that. I'm the best. I did it." We prefer a measure of humility that makes the star seem a little more accessible to the rest of us. Whether it is a sport star, successful businessman, accomplished musician, or applauded intellectual, we appreciate those who are content to allow others to place them on a pedestal.

What about YOU? Are you content to wait on others to lift you up? Or do you run to climb up on a pedestal to announce your accomplishments? What if no one applauds your victory or your achievement? What if no one tells you, "That was a job well done" or "That was a great effort"?

Listen to the words of Solomon:

Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, 

And do not stand in the place of great men;
For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here,"

Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, 

Whom your eyes have seen.
--Proverbs 25:6-7

When you exalt yourself you place yourself at risk of being humiliated. Yet, when you present yourself humbly, you may be exalted. Solomon reflected on this principle as it applied to life. The Apostle Peter wrote about the same principle as it applies to spiritual life.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.
--1 Peter 5:6

In this life we are unsure whether anyone will applaud our success. However, with God there is certainty.

Be content in your humility.
Be humble in your contentment.

Let God place you on a pedestal of His design.

Mark Stinnett

September 27, 2020

What Do You Have Planned for Tomorrow...?

One spring my wife and I decided to take the day (a Monday) and head to the Botanical Gardens. There was always something new in bloom. We planned to head out as soon as the kids were off to school, spend the morning at the gardens, and then have lunch together. We made our plan on Saturday.

We spent Sunday night in the ER with one of our daughters due to abdominal pain. Everything turned out OK, but we didn’t get to bed until 2:00 a.m. (Ugh. Adjust plans for Monday.)

We all have our own stories, some humorous, some serious, some sad. Unexpected circumstances and changed plans, sometimes turning our world upside down.

     Do not boast about tomorrow, 
     For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
                                                                   --Proverbs 27:1


We know that one by heart, right?
We have experienced it a hundred times, right?

We really do not need a proverb in the Bible for this one! Right?

----------------------

It is not a proverb that discourages planning. Rather, it discourages boasting...and something else.

A person who ‘boasts’ about tomorrow, is placing his confidence in a future outcome. That future outcome is based on his/her thinking and planning. That thinking and planning is confidence in oneself.

Do we understand that!?
When a person boasts about tomorrow, he is really boasting about himself.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” ¹⁴Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” ¹⁶But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. ¹⁷Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
                                                                                                    --James 4:13-17


There are many days with unforeseen circumstances that will affect the ‘tomorrows’ of life. Yet, for each one of us there will one day that will have an eternal tomorrow.
Plan wisely for that day.

A Pair to Remember

Proud. Proud. Proud. Proud. Proud. Proud. Proud. Proud. Proud. Proud. 
Humble. Humble. Humble. Humble. Humble. Humble. Humble. Humble.

A person cannot read the Proverbs without learning something about God’s attitude toward pride and humility. The Apostle Peter summed it up succinctly:
   God is opposed to the proud, 
   But gives grace to the humble.
   --1 Peter 5:5

Not only should we see God’s attitude toward pride and humility in the Proverbs, we should learn how to avoid pride and its pitfalls, as well as how to embrace humility and its blessings. Perhaps the real question is whether we believe the words of Solomon and Peter or simply wish to blunder through life indulging our human nature.

Consider the proverb...

   When pride comes, then comes dishonor, 
   But with the humble is wisdom.
   --Proverbs 11:2

Dishonor follows pride. This is a principle of life that God has put into place in his creation. It is like gravity; God made it to be that way.

Some folks look for exceptions, or, at least, occasions that appear to be exceptions. People that challenge God and His word by pressing a supposed exception are scoffers. Their naïve assessment of God's word demonstrates pride in their thinking.

Jesus taught a parable that illustrated the principle found in the proverb. It is worth a quick look. 

And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. 10 But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you."

His conclusion in verse 11:
   "For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, 
   And he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

Looking back to the proverb...
The second line of the proverb contrasts the first, but with a notable difference. Dishonor 'follows' pride, but wisdom is 'with' the humble.

Dishonor and pride are a pair, but one follows the other. In contrast, wisdom and humility are paired together as close companions. We can safely conclude that a wise person will demonstrate humility, but also, that a humble person pursues and lives according to wisdom.

Are you able to read this proverb and accept it at face value? Or, do you find God to be out of sync with the people of our day? Do you have insight into truth that surpasses God's understanding? Are you a scoffer?

See pride for what it is. Embrace the noble pair, humility and wisdom, and enjoy the results, grace from our Creator.

standing small

I have known men who stood in pride. I have felt the disgust wash over me when prideful men have arrogantly shown contempt for others. I have felt anger when they have strutted in untouchable pride. I have heard their proud voices bark orders to those over whom they had authority. I have even been humiliated by a few.

   Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
   Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
                                                                                    -Proverbs 16:5

The man of pride will receive his due. Yet, as I read and wonder at the truth of this proverb, I do not smile. Even when I consider that the proud man ‘deserves’ God’s wrath, I find little satisfaction in his end.

You see, we have all stood before God in pride, the pride of sin. At one time or another we have all pridefully opposed God by going our own way. We are all guilty before the pure and holy Creator. We all ‘deserve’ His wrath.

Can you envision the man of pride standing before the Supreme Judge? His chest does not swell any longer; his words a whisper, trembling knees, eyes looking downward. Can you see how small he stands?

It is truly reassuring that our God is just. Sin will not go unpunished. Pride will not go unpunished. But how terrifying it is . . . . Are any of us truly great? Truly powerful?

Holy is our God, the Judge.

Keep yourself from pride.

The proud will be brought low.