Elevating Man Over God
I was listening to a downloaded sermon by John Piper today while doing my daily 30 minute jogging around my neighborhood. He was preaching a great message on the book of Romans and sin.
It opened up my eyes and convicted me of the ways in which I have dishonored God. I dishonor God when I get angry at the wrongs man do to me than the wrongs man (or I) do to God. I’m more bent out of shape at what man does to man (or to me) than what man does to God. Even in my proper indignation over the hurt of man to man, I sin because I elevate the value of man above the value of God. Even in my right anger, I sin because God doesn’t compare. I’m so much more angry that someone lied to me. I’m so much more angry that someone stole my credit cards. I’m so much more angry that someone mistreated me. And, as John Piper poignantly said it, ”We get more angry the poor suffer without the proper medical care than we are about the fact that the poor and the rich despise God!” Isn’t this ridiculous if we think about it? We belittle God by elevating the value of man than Him.
I am learning that if I have the proper views of God, of His holiness, and of His demands of me, what man does to me pales in significance. When someone mistreats us, when someone lies to us, or when someone deceives us (fellow sinners), we realize that they pale into the background and in comparison to our great sins done against the holy, perfect, righteous, sinless God.
April 14th, 2007 at 5:52 pm | Permalink
Hi Jessica,
I enjoyed your article “Elevating Man Over God.” I am afraid all too often that is what happens for most of us. It is so easy (even for Christians) to live in the flesh and so difficult to live in the Spirit. Even though we are directed to do just that (Gal. 5:16-25).