Matthew 18:1-9, HUMILITY vs. pride (4)

Over the years there have been Christian writers who have emphasized the words of Jesus, that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mt. 22:39).  The part they emphasized was that which says, we should love ourselves.  Others have emphasized the thought that the self is nothing, that those who come to God must come with a broken and contrite heart (Ps. 51:17).  It seems people can find what seem to be opposing attitudes toward “self” in Scripture.

For example, Job said he “abhorred” (hated) himself (Job. 42:6).  Yet, Jesus did say that we love our neighbor the way we love ourself.  A husband who loves his wife loves himself (Eph. 5:28).

Jeremiah said a man who trusts in men, including himself, is cursed (17:5).  There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Pr. 14:12; 16:25).  Yet, Paul says we should think “soberly” (properly) about ourselves (Rom. 12:3).  He told people to follow his example (Phil. 3:17; 4:9).  Imitate me, he said (1 Cor. 4:16).

Throughout Peter’s first letter he frequently calls us to be subordinate in various relationships.  We have seen it lately in Phil. 3:3-4, to consider others better than ourselves.  In honor, we are to prefer others before ourselves (Rom. 12:10).  Yet, in Jesus we certainly see One who is self-assertive, claiming to be the Bread of Life, one with the Father and so forth.  And lest you think it’s just because He’s the Son of God, Paul also has a similar attitude (e.g. 1 Cor. 15:10).

We are called to deny ourselves (Mk. 8:34-35), to be a living sacrifice to Christ (Rom. 12:1-2).  Yet, 1 Tim. 6:17 sounds like God intends that we should enjoy ourselves.

We are to humble ourselves (Mt. 18:3-4; 1 Pet. 5:6).  Yet, we see Paul boasting of his ministry (Rom. 15:17-20; 2 Cor. 11-12).

We are to crucify ourselves, a theme prominent in Galatians (Gal. 2:20; 6:14), and repeated in Col. 3:5 (put to death the members of your flesh).  Christ said to take up your cross daily and follow Him (Lk. 9:23).  Yet the Scripture also speaks of fulfillment of self, in that losing our life for Christ is the means that we find life (Mt. 10:39; 16:25).  In other words, God desires that we be fulfilled in life (cf. John 10:10; 12:25).

The crucified Savior refers to Himself as a “worm” (Ps. 22:5).  How can that be?

This is certainly related to our study of humility vs. pride.  We noted that the “humble man” is the lowly man.  It is the way he sees himself.  So are we supposed to go about life with a “oh, woe is me” attitude.  “I’m just nothing.”  Doesn’t that seem to carry a bit of pride with it as well?