Me and My Boys

Me and My Boys

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Self-pity is Satanic

This morning, as I began to read my old friend Oswald Chambers, I was awakened by these few words: "Self-pity is Satanic." Wow! Why is this true? I don't know if Mr.Chambers ever really answers this question. But what he does do is give us an answer to the questions of the will of God and answered prayer. You can read it for yourself right here: http://utmost.org/
But what really grabbed my attention were the words "Self-pity is Satanic." Why is this true? I hope I can answer this question for me and anyone who chooses to read this.

First: What is self-pity? Webster's Dictionary defines it like this: pity for oneself; especially : a self-indulgent dwelling on one's own sorrows or misfortunes (http://www.merriam-webster.com/). Self-pity is such a sad state.

Second: What does it look like? Those who choose to make self-pity there address, the place in which they decide live, are most "pitiful" to those who look in from the outside. Self-pity is marked by a "woe is me" disposition. A person who has made "self-pity" there companion walks around much like Eeyore  from Winnie the Pooh. He sees rain clouds but no rainbows. He sees shadows but no reflections. Everything is bad and sad and rarely ever is this person glad. Negativity has become this person's security blanket. He "Wallows in Self-pity." Literally this means that he has devoted himself to "Self-Pity." It defines him. It describes him. It marks him. Like a scar it tattoos him. It has become his identity.

Third: Why is Self-Pity Satanic?
1. Self-pity is also self-love. It is at its core idolatry. Jesus said in Mark 12:30, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment." The commandment is that we are to love him with every faculty of our being. Now, granted that is already an impossible task for sin natures. Gratefully, today we can say that we stand before a Holy God in His Righteousness and not our own. because even our best acts of righteousness are just "filthy rags" in comparison the righteous requirements of a Holy God (Isaiah 64:6). But anytime you put your self ahead of God, you find your self in sin. He has called us to abandon our self, pity and all to follow Him.
2. Self-Pity is Satanic because it exalts Self above God, the very thing that Lucifer did. He exalted himself. Isaiah 14: 12-14) "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'    

Follower of Christ, don't devote yourself to pity. Don't give yourself over to "self-pity." It is better that you do these things instead:
- Luke 9:23, Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  
-  Matthew 11:28-29, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

God Bless...