Mankinds Ten Worst Enemies: #2 Arrogance

According to H. G. Bosch, the newspaper cartoonist H. T. Webster once amused himself by sending telegrams to 20 of his acquaintances whom he selected at random. Each message contained just one word: "Congratulations." As far as Webster knew, not one of his friends had done anything special for which to be complimented. Yet, each person was so flattered that he immediately wrote Webster a letter of thanks. All 20 of his friends assumed they had done something worthy of a congratulatory telegram!

Surprising? I think not. Whereas pride can be defined as an excessively high opinion of oneself; arrogance is the state or quality of being overly convinced of one's own importance. From a Christian perspective, arrogance is man's inflated belief in his own abilities that interferes with his recognition of the grace of God. In other words, we cannot see God, or experience God for we are too focused on ourselves.

In a sense, arrogance is like a weed that grows amid the beautiful roses and yet, it believes itself to be far more pleasing to the eye. The arrogant person enjoys being paramount and awards himself a high degree of importance. But arrogance is deadly and an enemy to the soul. It is an outward expression of an inward flaw. A bloated ego is the most serious obstacle to submission to God. It is the enemy within that prevents us from accepting God's omnipotence and absolute authority. Consequently, it is our own arrogance that stands between us and redemption into God's kingdom.

I am reminded of Jesus' prayer for Peter. Remember, at a certain point during the Last Supper, Jesus focused His entire attention on Simon? He tells him, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail." Luke 22:31-32a. (NIV).

This is significant because Simon had become arrogant. He had gotten beside himself; self assured and over confident. He had become boastful and big headed. He exuded an air of superiority and certainty about himself. He thought he knew who he was and what he was about. He had become conceited and no one could tell him anything.

Simon had soared to great heights. He was the chief spokesman for the twelve, water walker, rock man, one of Jesus' inner circle, and prominent figure at the transfiguration. To himself, he was somebody. Simon was so inculcated with a sense of his own special importance that he even went so far as to assume he knew more about Jesus' mission than Jesus Himself.

This is why prayer is so important to the Christian life. We need prayer to overcome Satan. Satan got a hold of Simon and carried him on a hurricane ride through hell. He poisoned Simon's spirit and confused his mind and made him betray the most important person ever to come into his life.

Arrogance is one of many tools used by Satan. If we are not careful, he will use this tool to wreck our system of values, paralyze our spirit and ruin our capacity to reason. He can dull our conscience and transform our home from a place of peace and love to a wasteland of disturbance and discord. And, sometimes, for our own good God has to let Satan shake us and sift us for a time.

So whoever you are, regardless of how high you think you may be escalating spiritually, watch out, be cautious, don't indulge the enemy, and pray for humility. While you are climbing Jacob's ladder to spiritual heights, watch your footing. Because I have learned that even the roads to spiritual heights are paved with ice.

SIDEBAR NOTE: Winston Churchill once had a very arrogant cabinet member. When this person left the room one day, Churchill turned to the rest of his cabinet and said, "There, but for the grace of God goes God!"

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.

You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Soul's Service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded Stop & Shop Mini Mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.

Blessings to all!

---

Who Is He?

"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is... Read More

Vacation Pilgrimage

I heard recently on a Christian radio station somebody talking... Read More

Terrorists Again - 14 Prayers to Protect Your Family

In the last 2 weeks or so, I have been... Read More

The Role of the Spiritual Warrior

What power do we hold individually in the midst of... Read More

Reasons to Fast and Pray

Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the... Read More

Connect With the Moon Phases to Manifest Your Desires

Connecting with the Moon phases, the Full and New Moon... Read More

Inner-Tubing With God: Understanding Gods Ways

It is so obvious that God works and thinks on... Read More

I Am Not An Island or What Does God Have to Do With Animals?

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the... Read More

Midnight Songs

In life, sooner or later, we come to the midnight... Read More

Animal Totems

What the Animals Tell Us"I am the Sun's son. I... Read More

The Divine Throne-Chariot

The following fragment was found in Qumran along with the... Read More

Spirituality: Living the Whole

The words 'new age' and 'spirituality' can have people running... Read More

Connect with Spirit

Spirit - All Around Us, All of Us, Every One... Read More

Chakras 101

The chakras are different coloured energy centres that originate from... Read More

Conquer Your Fears

I cringed lower into the seat of my grey metal... Read More

Afraid Of Reading The Bible? I Was!

A magnificent source of life insurance and it's FREE. You... Read More

Two Simple Ways To Get Anything You Want

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure,... Read More

Leaving Storyville

One of the most difficult barriers... Read More

3 Little Prayers That Strengthen Relationships

My mentor, a brilliant Ph.D, with a powerful marriage counseling... Read More

Some Evidence of How We Are Spiritually Connected

It has long been surmised that emotional trauma can lead... Read More

You Are Spirit Powered (Moving to Transformation)

A spiritual event is what happens in every moment of... Read More

Choosing Our Parents

There's a Native American belief that before we are born,... Read More

The CAB Approach to Spiritual Growth

I have been thinking a lot about the spiritual growth... Read More

The 5 Elemental Codes: Seeing Your World Through the Eyes of Universal Understanding (Part 1)

This article is the 1st part of an open response... Read More

The Flow Of Money

The more we worry about money, and who's asking for... Read More

Spirit Guide Communication ? Get the Answers You Seek

There are many energy beings available to assist us in... Read More

Whats Missing from Your Nutritional Plan?

IS FAITH - NOT VITAMIN C WHAT'S MISSING FROM YOUR... Read More

Slow Leak

In God's world, everything can be used as an anology... Read More

Animal Totems - Accept the Gifts They Have To Offer You

You can think of your Animal Totems as imaginary guides... Read More

Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 5

Matthew 2:13-15 The Flight to Egypt13 Now when they had... Read More

Writing Letters to God

Many of you come to this site because you are... Read More

True Health

Some may ask, is there any truth to have a... Read More

Do Unto Others Marketing

We've all heard the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as... Read More