Letters From Grandpa #540

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 540

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will deal with pride. The Scriptures teach that God hates pride (Prov. 8:13). We are warned not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think (Romans 12:3). Pride was the original sin of Satan (Ezekiel 28:17). James, the brother of Jesus warned of pride with these inspired words: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:22-24) Pride, of course, is one reason we look in the mirror. We sit down at a “vanity” and make adjustments to keep people from seeing us as we really are.

The Psalmist wrote: “The fool says in his heart there is no God.” (Ps. 14:1) There are 8 different Hebrew words translated as “fool” in the Bible. The word used in Psalm 14:1 is “nabal,” which refers to someone who is shamelessly immoral. It is used in Genesis 34:7, for example, of a Hivite prince named Shechem. He raped Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and was totally unashamed. His father Hamor, was the ruler of their tribe and apparently had given this entitled young man anything he wanted. How foolish! If Shechem had looked honestly in a mirror, he would have seen a rapist. Sadly, however, this rapist looked in the mirror and then forgot what he saw and also forgot about God!

Please carefully consider this parable taught by Jesus: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers— or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14) Proud people are in for a shock on Judgment Day!

Many years ago I tried to capture the prevalence of pride in the following poem:

The middle of the road is the place where I walk, where no doctrinal danger can be.

It’s quite lonely out here, for my brethren I fear are not as discerning as me. They turn to the left, and they turn to the right and extremists on both hands are found.

But the middle of the road is my safe abode, and I stay on my way heaven bound. While others may stray in their pendulous ways and turn from the one right direction,

An accurate goal is the theme of my soul, and I modestly maintain perfection. The way that is straight has but one narrow gate and I know that it’s waiting for me,

For I humbly accord with the way of the Lord, and abandon all errors you see. This terse little verse is quite popular now, and it’s message the multitudes know,

For it suits to a “T”, every person you see, whatever direction they go!

King David was a sinner who made many mistakes. His redeeming virtue, however, was his humility. After being rebuked by Nathan for adultery and murder he cried out: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my

transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (Psalms 51;1-3) Remember! David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

The Prodical Son also learned the lesson of humility. His dreams of success in that far country turned into a nightmare when he was forced to live with pigs. The Scriptures say: “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.” (Luke 15:17-20) It was as if this boy in the pig pen was in a trance happy that he no longer had to obey his father. Then, “he came to his senses”. He looked in the mirror and saw reality. That’s when he wisely decided to bury his pride and go home to his father. There is an old joke about the sailer who was drunk, with two black eyes, and vomiting violently with a terrible headache. When asked what he was doing, he said: “I am having a good time.”

When the Prodical came home, as you know, his Father was watching for him. His loving Father saw him when he was yet a great way off. With great compassion He ran to his wayward son, threw his arms about him, dressed him in an expensive robe, and welcomed him home. He also kissed him, put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Then he killed the fattened calf and celebrated with music and dancing. This may be the only time in the Bible when God is pictured as running. This is the kind of welcome everyone can experience when they bury their pride and come to God in repentance. The only regret anyone has about returning to God is that we didn’t do it sooner!

In the same chapter Luke reminds us “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7) “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10) PLEASE DO NOT LET PRIDE KEEP YOU FROM YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER! YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG BY HUMBLING YOURSELF AND REPENTING!

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce