Self And Pride

Have you ever seen a generation so full of itself? Seemingly every thought is about self. It’s not about knowing self, but about serving self. If this generation was occupied with truly knowing itself, it would be ashamed of itself. Some of the smartest people that have ever lived in this world are living today — just ask them, just listen to them, just watch them; yet, as they are suffered to carry out their wise designs they are destroying themselves.

What is it that everyone in our generation should know about themselves? That they are nothing. “If a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”*

Everyone in this generation needs to know he is deserving of nothing — not another breath, step, food, drink, health, job or freedom or anything else, but to be immediately judged of God and punished in hell forever for their sins. “If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.”** Are God’s enemies deserving of any good?

How few in our generation suppose themselves to be God’s enemy — or even care to think of such a thing? How many suppose themselves worthy of being rewarded with slashes of God’s glittering sword? What an awakening for this generation when God exposes its sin to itself. How horrified it will be to see itself as it really is. Oh, it’s so proud, so smart, so educated, so worthy — but just wait.

Lloyd Jones said, “Pride is the last citadel of self. We have come to realize that a man can be educated and cultured, and still be a beast. The natural man is always looking at himself and admiring himself. The whole trouble in life is ultimately a concern about self.” The modern man is a great worshiper. He has great faith, great enlightenment, but it’s all about self. Now go take a selfie.

-Bruce Crabtree, Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, New Castle, IN USA

* Galatians 6:3; **Deuteronomy 32:41