She
preens, careful to make certain that her beauty is noted. It gives her a sense
of worth. He advertises his athletic prowess for the same reason. Another
drives a car that is a billboard for his wealth, much more than just ‘transportation.’ Another includes the letters of his degrees
on his business card. It says, “I’m accomplished.” This need to proclaim, “I exist. I matter!”
is universal in humans. The same message is shouted in a thousand ways. Cities
do it with massive buildings. Nations work at becoming empires. Tragically, even some churches play the game,
insisting “We are the people of God.”
At
the dawn of human history there is a story that is rewritten somewhere every
day. "As the people migrated to the
east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began
saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this
region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) Then
they said, “Come, let’s build a great
city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us
famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” (Genesis
11:2-6, NLT) Genesis goes on to recount
the Lord’s displeasure with their conceit!
He confused their language and drove them apart. Their folly was forever
known as the Tower of Babel.
The
desire to know that we matter, that we have worth, is good and normal. God made
us in His image, unique and valuable. Just as He creates, He placed a desire in
us to contribute to the world we live in. But, we are broken by sin, our
desires to matter contaminated by pride. Like those ancient people we think
making a name for ourselves will satisfy our soul. It won’t! Only one choice allows us to live
contentedly: serving God’s purpose! The
godly give themselves to Christ Jesus and, in Him, their lives find meaning
beyond any they might find in earthly accomplishment.
The conceit of humanity is a game
for fools.
Solomon played it like a pro. He gained admiration from far and wide, built
amazing public works, enjoyed sensual pleasures on scale we cannot even
imagine. In the wisdom of advanced years, he looked back. His words, which I
hear not as a sigh of resignation, but as a cry of awful regret for a largely
wasted life, should point us to a different road. "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done
again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can
say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here
before our time." (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10, NIV) "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of
them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 1:14,
NIV) Some read him only as a cynic. But,
I read him as a man who came too late to understanding, who wants to spare us
the sorrow that comes from the realization of our own conceit too late. He
says, “Remember God… remember…
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God
and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes
12:13, NIV)
Conceit
or contentment, which is it for you, Christian?
Pray
that the Spirit will help you see past the allure of beauty, brains, brawn, or
bounty! The lie of ancient Babel still tries to convince us that we can make
ourselves matter. The word from the Word holds wisdom that sets us right.
"Since you have been raised to new
life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits
in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven,
not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is
hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to
the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4,
NLT)
___________________
Only in God, is my soul at rest.
In Him comes my salvation.
He only is my Rock,
My strength and my salvation.
Only in God is found safety,
When my enemy pursues me.
Only in God is found glory,
When I am found meek and found
lowly.
My stronghold, my Savior,
I shall not be afraid at all.
My stronghold, my Savior,
I shall not be moved.
Only in God, is my soul at rest.
In Him comes my salvation.
Only In God
Talbot,
John Michael
©
1980 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG
Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc. (Mech) (Admin. by EMI Christian Music
Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 810055
No comments:
Post a Comment