Did you know that most relationship struggles are directly related to the sin of pride?  I used to think that in order for a relationship to be successful…both parties had to be humble and willing to work hard.  If that were really true… there would be no hope.

If that were true, Jesus would have been unable to develop any dear relationships on earth.  He was the only perfect party in every single one of his relationships, yet he loved and cared for many close friends throughout his earthly life.  His entire character was infused with meekness.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:6-8

Praise God for the power of His Holy Spirit in our lives that enables us to live Christ-like lives if we will surrender them to His purposes!  Incidentally, one of the tools that God has used in my life to illustrate how this can be practically played out in real life are the Lamplighter books as well as other stories such as Hinds Feet on High Places.  Every story is a treasure, illustrating the beauty of living in  meekness and forgiveness under the most trying and painful circumstances.  The characters  rocked their worlds because they humbled themselves and took on the nature of servants. 

Here are some questions to help us Wemmicks evaluate whether our lives are characterized by pride or meekness.

Do you criticize others in the privacy of your home?

Do you believe you are already pretty humble?

Are you competitive?

Is it often “your way” or nothing?

Do you speak poorly of others to your family/friends?

Do you complain when things go wrong?

Do you struggle with a lack of contentment?

Do you want to be in control of your circumstances?

Do you get defensive when someone criticizes you?

Do you hate hearing advice?

Do you harbor unforgiveness?

Do you argue with others?

Do you struggle with anger?

Do you have a hard time submitting to authority at home, school, work place, etc.?

Do you have a hard time accepting the difficult situations that come into your life?

Do you get upset even when “little things” don’t go as you had planned?

Do you feel affronted when others do not follow your directions?

Are you the first to give answers with the belief that your answer is the best one?

If you had to answer “yes” to many (or all!) of these, then join the Wemmick club.  Every Wemmick is in it…with no exceptions.  If you answered “no” to most (or all) of them..then your pride problem may be deeper than you realize!

 

The Wemmick Way

Wemmick television, movies, music, and magazines actually CELEBRATE pride.  You really can’t watch or listen to much of anything without seeing arrogant, snotty, rebellious, cruel, whiny Wemmicks cracking jokes at the expense of others, living self-focused lives, and making self-motivated decisions regardless of how it affects those around them.

What you generally will not see is genuine love.  Sorrow over hurting others.  Repentance for selfish choices.  Care and concern for human beings.  Mature, adult responsibility.  And of course, the solid, stable relationships that such character produces.

Unfortunately, the rotten character celebrated in our culture’s media is actually admired and emulated by the masses.  No wonder real-life relationships are generally shallow and short-lived, leaving emptiness and suffering in the hearts of most Wemmicks.

 

The Creator’s Way

The King of Kings loves Wemmicks and never intended that they would suffer to the degree that they do. Do you and the members of your family struggle with pride as much as our family does?  If you’d like,  you could do a little Bible study on this topic using the verses I’ve included below.  Pride is the root of the fall of mankind; and, as such, these verses are just the tip of the iceberg of all that God has to say on this topic.

Do you expose yourself to Wemmick media?  If you do, I’d like to challenge you to try a very interesting exercise!  Print these verses off…and carry them with you to the couch when you settle down for your favorite show.  (Hey…I’ve been there, OK?)  Now watch your show…but glance down at these words periodically…and let the contrast of the two ideologies sweep over you.  God says His Word is sharper than a two edged sword.

Feel the edge. 

So often we separate our “real life” (in this case, settling down to watch our show) with our “spiritual life” (in this case, what the Word of God says about pride).  This is not a whole, healthy way to live.  God created you as a WHOLE person: body, mind, spirit, soul, and emotions.  If we feel fragmented and “off” inside ourselves…it is often because we are not BEING who God created us to BE.  Complete and whole.  Unified in the way we BELIEVE and the way we LIVE.

By doing this experiment, you are purposely colliding these two “worlds” together.  Do you want to experience a serious rush?  Try it.  You’ll never be the same.

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Proverbs 10:8

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 15:31-33

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

Isaiah 5:21

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

Isaiah 66:2

You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

Luke 16:15

If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.

Mark 9:35

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you

Romans 12:3

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Romans 12:16

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise.

I Corinthians 3:18

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

I Corinthians 13:4

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Galatians 5:26

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossions 3:12