When Something Is Nothing Series

prophecy, and great knowledge and wisdom, and faith to remove

mountains, and did not have love, he would be nothing. It is hard to

believe that so much somethings can equal absolutely nothing, but

this is what Paul clearly teaches. Without love a Christian can be

nothing, in the sense that he would be useless for the cause of Christ.

This is why pride is such a great danger to the believer, for it can

render him useless. In Psa. 62:9 David says, "...men of high estate

are a delusion, in the balances they go up; they are altogether lighter

than a breath." Paul goes even further, and says they are not only

lighter than air, they are nothing, but either way, the two testaments

agree, pride can make a man weightless, and unable to exert even an

ounce of weight on the scale for good.

The tragedy is that this is not just a hypothetical possibility, but is

an actual reality. This was the case with the lukewarm majority in

the church of Laodicea. In Rev. 3:17 Jesus says to these Christians

who are neither hot nor cold, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and

increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not

that thou are wretched, and miserable, and blind and naked." They

thought they were something when they were nothing. They

deceived themselves into thinking they needed nothing, but in reality,

they needed everything. Paul gives another example of this deception

of pride in I Tim. 6:3-4. "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not

agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the

teaching which accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit,

and knows nothing." Here is a man who thinks he is so wise he can

go beyond the words of Christ. He thinks he knows something, but

Paul says, what he knows is nothing.

Here is the paradox that runs all through the Bible. He who

exalts himself shall be brought low. The Tower of Babel is the great

symbol of human pride. When man seeks to climb to the sky, he ends

groveling in the dirt. When he seeks to go to heaven by

self-exaltation, he lands in hell. When he thinks himself to be

something, he is nothing. This passage is extremely relevant to all of

us. Obedience is vital to our very existence as useful Christians.

Bearing one another's burdens is not just a suggestion, it is a

demand-do it or else. Here is a law in the midst of grace. A

Christian who is not fulfilling the law of Christ is not fulfilling the

purpose for which he exists.

This can be hard, and especially when the burden is the result of sin.

These are the worst, for it is easy to get your hands dirty, and

even your soul, if you are not careful, as Paul warns. Paul knew

some Christians would be hesitant on this matter, and would not

want to risk spotting their lily white hands in pulling a fallen brother

out of the pit. He made his bed, let him lie in it, would be their

attitude. After all says the proud Christian, "I am something. I am a

leader in the church. I have a reputation of respectability in the

community. I can't get involved in helping some fool brother who