[318]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - TRUTH WITHOUT ARROGANCE
Pride is one of the greatest sins because it was Lucifer’s first sin, and pride is so insidious. It causes false delusion of a person’s importance, and promotes arrogance. Any Christian engaged in any sort of Christian ministry is susceptible to this sin. It is dangerous when a person thinks he or she is especially gifted and important and expect others to recognise them and how important that person is. That is pride that has settled itself in the person’s life.
I think that is one reason Paul warned about not having a novice as an elder. 1 Timothy 3:6. Pride attacks everyone but I think the younger Christian is more vulnerable through inexperience.
For those in ministry and who have been gifted with abilities from God, these people should know their gifts. I think it is essential to recognise the gift/s that the Lord has given to you, but then something important must happen. You need God’s grace to know that of yourself, you are nothing, absolutely nothing, with no ability except what the Lord has specifically given you. Not only must you know that fact, but you must frequently recall it. Without Christ you are nothing, and all you have, is granted in truth to you. That makes you a custodian of the grace of God displayed to you in the granting of certain gifts. And remember, you are accountable to the Lord for the management of your gift.
There is no place in Christian ministry for those who think they are important to others and to their churches, those who think they know it all. Immediately, you have failed. It takes God’s grace to know YOUR place before the Saviour’s face! We all know the meaning of a short biblical command, “Examine yourselves” -
{{2 Corinthians 13:5 “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. EXAMINE YOURSELVES, or do you not recognise this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?”}}
Pastor, teacher, singer, evangelist, leader, writer, author, elder, deacon – Let all take heed of what Paul wrote – {{Galatians 6:3 “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself,”}}. If you are better versed in scripture DO NOT DESPISE those who don’t have your standard.
I wrote this poem 27 years ago because it troubled me that some saw their way of doing things superior to others as if they were the elite. It is correct to seek the truth but whatever truth God has given you, do not allow that to puff you up and then judge others who may not be as talented as you think you are. In 2021 I wrote a poem titled “ARROGANCE WITHOUT TRUTH” and that is on SermonCentral. It is a good pairing with this one.
One couplet is this –
“Are they at fault? But even so,
Make sure you shun them as you go!!”
Just to be clear, that is irony.
Here is the poem:
=========================================================
TRUTH WITHOUT ARROGANCE
To know the truth is blessed indeed,
For by the truth one’s mind is freed.
=============
Yet what a danger lies contained
In all the truth that may be gained.
Without the life, just truth alone,
Will cause the empty soul to groan.
To have some truth, but just pretend
You have the lot, from start to end,
Is arrogance and nothing less.
That problem we must all address,
For left unchecked, it builds a pride
That causes one to draw aside,
Discounting others of less worth,
To give them, then, a wider berth.
=============
“I am the Way, the Truth and Life.”
Why do we see such Christian strife
Among the ones who love the Lord,
When over “truth” some draw the sword?
Without the life, just truth alone,
Will cause the empty soul to groan.
But truth alone, without the love,
Dishonours Christ, the Truth above.
=============
But can it be that truths we own;
That we’ve ensconced upon a throne,
Dictate to us in regal form
To rally a divisive storm?
Is that the way the Lord would choose
That we, His truth, that way would use?
=============
Without His love at the control
What does a truth do to the soul?
In isolation, it will say,
That I alone, have the best way.
=============
The Lord may grant a greater sight;
Enlarge your vision with more light;
Reveal to you some treasured fact,
Or principle, on which to act.
Think not at all you have all right,
And from your special priv’leged height
Look down upon, and criticise -
Another’s ministry, despise.
My sheep they are who know My name,
And in My Flock, they’re all the same.
=============
But His child here, and that one there,
He’ll use them all that they should share
The message of His love and peace,
Whose presence with them does not cease.
Why do we brand those ones “outside”
For whom our Saviour likewise died,
As “saints in error” and “defiled”,
With such descriptions on them piled?
=============
Does it make us feel good that we
Have certain truths that they don’t see?
Or maybe they have not been told
Of certain things that you enfold!
Are they at fault? But even so,
Make sure you shun them as you go!!
=============
A new commandment Jesus gave
To love ALL those His death would save.
As Christ loved them, He told His own,
Love one another! - don’t disown.
Love one another means far more
Than condescension’s loveless flaw.
=============
Self-righteousness and self-conceit
Will always bring their own defeat.
=============
If God has given special light,
Then humble be, and think aright.
=============
15 July 1999 R.E.Ferguson 8 s throughout Rhyme is AABB etc.