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Mar 19, 2024 18:00pm

Breaking the Chains of Pride

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I’m a fixer.

A do-it-yourselfer. I do not like to ask for help. Why? Perhaps it’s because I want to prove myself. More than likely, it’s a pride issue. I’m sure I’m the only one like this…

I find myself saying, “No, I’ve got it.” Or struggling silently until the task or situation is over because I don’t want to tell anyone, ask anyone, or burden them.

And that’s when you see me with a huge China cabinet on a towel so I can move it by myself across the floor.

It’s dumb. I know.

But, there have been times when I recognize my limits.

I was reorganizing the back of our basement and had a large tote full of glassware. Heavy glassware. It was too tall to go on the lower shelves, so the only place for it was on the very top, where it would have more room close to the rafters.

With my step ladder in front of the shelf, I dragged my tote closer and got it up onto the first step with me. Then, the second step. With all that I had, I heaved it up onto the back of the step ladder and tried to balance it there while I got my strength back. At this moment, I was really hoping someone would come in with a can of spinach and give me “Popeye” muscles to finish the job.

But alas, no one came.

I stared at the shelf, trying to figure out just how I was going to get this over my head. I propped my foot on the shelf and mustered the strength to pull the tote onto my leg. Did I mention how heavy this thing was?

As I balanced it there on my knee, I contemplated how much of this stinking glassware I really needed.

I took several deep breaths, hoping to have enough strength to get it over my head. I planned to rest it on the next shelf lip until I could get under it better and then lift it up and over.

I tried three times. No amount of deep breaths would get that tote up there.

I felt defeated and frustrated.

Slowly, I lowered the tote back to my knee, then to the ladder and the floor. My back was killing me, my arms were shaking, and I was hot. Very hot.

Just walk away, I told myself. But do I listen? Nope.

I thought, ok, maybe if I…

Listen, we could be here all morning if I told you how many ways I tried to get that thing up there. But in the end, I simply couldn’t do it. I needed help. I needed someone else.

I went to Shaun, told him about my predicament, and asked him to help me. And do you know what his answer was?

Sure, I’ll be right there.

With a swift lift and push, he had that tote up there in just a few seconds.

Now, why on earth didn’t I just ask him in the first place?

There comes a time in our lives when we realize we can’t and need help.

John 4:46-54
“So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.”

A nobleman. Perhaps a Roman officer for Herod. A man that was capable of accomplishing great things. He had the power and wealth to do just about anything he wanted.

But this man walked 20 miles to find Jesus because he couldn’t help his son.

Notice how he refers to Jesus. He calls Him “Sir.” This is a humbling moment for the nobleman. He lowered himself under the power and authority of Jesus, proving that he believed that if Jesus would come, his child would be healed.

But Jesus did something even better. There was no need for Him to travel with him and go to his son. Jesus’ power was not limited to space or time. No distance was too far for His healing.

He said, “Go thy way; thy son liveth.”

This miracle wasn’t just for the man or his son. It was a testament to the power of Christ. Jesus had come to seek and save the lost. Not just the Jews but the Gentiles, too. Many would come to believe because of this beautiful miracle.

But it all started with this nobleman surrendering his pride, falling before the true King, Jesus, asking for His help, and believing without seeing.

Have you done the same? There comes a time in our lives when we realize we can’t and need help. And there is only One who can.

Jesus.

It’s time to lay aside our self-righteous pride, do-it-on-our-own attitude, and recognize we need a Savior.

The Almighty God created us. But we chose to disobey Him, bringing sin into this world. And because God is righteous, all sin must be dealt with and judged. Sin brings death. But God, rich in mercy, had a plan to save us from the death caused by our sins.

A sacrifice had to be made. Sinless, spotless, blameless. Perfect in every way.

God gave us His Son, Jesus, to die in our place. He took on the sins of the world so that we might have life eternal with God and no longer be separated.

But we must come before Him, recognize His authority and power, and ask Him for help.

Just as the nobleman did.

Ask Him today.