Resistance is Futile

If you were to come up with the most basic definition of pride you could, what would it be? If you had to explain pride to a young child, what would you say?

The most basic definition of pride I can think of is to say that pride is putting us in the place where only God should be.

There are a few different types of pride. The obvious being selfish pride but the pride I want to write about today is presumptive pride. Presumptive pride is futile. There are a lot of things in life that seem futile, aren’t there?

 In my business today, I have my plans for expanding the business.

Marketing Plans; Financial Plans; Human Resource Plans; Development Plans.   

All these are good plans to make but I left out the only plan that really matters. I left out God’s Plan! This is what James was talking all about in Chapter 4 and verse 13 - 17:

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. “As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

“Resistance is Futile!”

We could be the most successful businessmen on earth, but that doesn’t really matter with what little time we have. What matters is obedience to the will of God. When we made our plans this year, were we considering the Master’s plan? Are you considering God’s will and subjecting your plans to it? I don’t want my future plans to be based on this vapor of life that God has given me.

None of us knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. Only God does. Doesn’t it only make sense for the only One who knows the future to be the One on whom we base our plans? If we don’t, we’re showing presumptive pride. And that is sheer futility. But not only is presumptive pride futile, it is also arrogant.

Arrogance is one of those ways where our society has been completely turned on its head. Do you remember Mohammed Ali? Mohammed Ali was one of the greatest boxers to ever enter the ring. It’s probably an understatement to say that Mohammed Ali was arrogant.

Remember?                                       “I am the greatest!!!”

Back when he was still in his prime, he had to get on an airplane to go to his next fight. Right before the plane was ready to take off, the stewardess told him to put on his seatbelt. He ignored her. On her next pass down the aisle, she told him again to put his seatbelt on. He ignored her again. Finally, on her final check before the plane took off, she insisted that he put his seatbelt on. This time he didn’t ignore her. This time he looked at her and said, “I’m Superman. Superman doesn’t need any seatbelt.” The stewardess didn’t back down one bit. She looked him right in the eye and told him, “Superman don’t need no airplane either—buckle up.”

“Resistance is Futile!!!”

It is one thing to make plans thinking you’re in control. It is completely another thing to make plans knowing that God is in control. How does the fact that there is a God who is in control of the universe impact your plans? If He only impacts your plans when you try to get Him to endorse what you’ve already purposed in your heart to do, you’re sinning.

The problem isn’t knowing what’s right. The problem is doing what’s right.

Making plans is right. But it’s only right when your plans are held in submission to God’s plan.

How is your pride?