GOD HAS HAD IT WITH THE PROUD by jon neufeld

But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for God has had it with the proud, but takes delight in just plain people. So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.
1 Peter 5: 4-7 (MSG)

I don’t always love The Message paraphrase of the bible, but in this instance it really hit me. In plain, simple language it’s a command to surrender our pride because God has had it with the proud. This passage is a call to not be someone or something we’re not. 

To stop pretending. 

In an age of Social Media domination we are constantly comparing, and constantly struggling and wrestling with discontentment. All we see is the best parts of everyone else’s lives. 

It’s a facade….nobody’s life is perfect.  

As followers of Jesus, we should walk to a different beat. One that isn’t obsessed with our identity in light of everyone else’s. God desires our honesty—our real lives are what he wants! Just you and me as plain, simple people, imperfections and all. The kingdom of God is worked out and revealed through these imperfections. 

This passage also reminded me of how impatient Jesus was with the Pharisees (the religious elite), because they were so full of pride. Over and over again he challenged these religious leaders in their perception of salvation and obeying holy law. He couldn’t stand how fake they were, and how obsessed they were with their own appearance of holiness. 

The truth is we were all hopeless without Jesus and the sacrifice he made for our sins, and we all need to recognize this truth with humility and gratitude. 

Plain and simple.

Let’s choose to believe and obey today, by surrendering our pride, and submitting to him. And maybe surrendering our pride means surrendering something that won't be easy.  

Maybe it’s calling someone and extending forgiveness, squashing the bitterness we have built up inside. Maybe it’s giving away more money and being more generous than we’re comfortable with.  

Maybe it’s being more disciplined in how we live as a reflection of the one we’re ultimately living for. 

Maybe our pride is even more subtle and than we realize—maybe our pride looks more like control.  

The more we take the control of our lives into our own hands, the more “proud” of ourselves we become. None of us are self-made. We are all created, and sustained by the one true God.   

I was challenged by this passage to be more authentic in how I pray in the secret, to be content in who I am, and to be more intentional with how I interact with people. It's tiring to live with pride, and as we read in 1 Peter 6, God is tired of it, too. 

I’m tired of pretending, putting up a front and showing only my best. The one true God takes delight in me as I am. 

Just plain and simple. 

Jon

jneufeld@b4church.org