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Being Full of Yourself
Being Full of Yourself
“God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves” - Dwight Moody
Those words characterize what happened when the ruler heard Jesus say he should sell all he had, give it to the poor, and come follow me. The reason he and so many go away empty is because of pride. Pride feeds on itself. It can grow in a heart without being sustained by the praise or admiration of others.
The faces of pride are: “I want it my way”, “What about me?”, “I don’t have to listen to anybody”, “Who cares what you think?”, “I have rights too you know”, and “I don’t need God”.
We usually give pride a name. Proud adults are called “hard-headed”, “hard-nosed”, or “cold-hearted”. Proud children are called “stuck-up”, “snobbish”, “cocky”, “conceited”, or “too-good”. Whether you are a child or an adult, everyone should know, “when pride cometh then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).
Giving in to pride is sure ruin, even though people think it is the way to happiness. Joy is the way of humility! Is that a surprise? James said it best in James 4:10: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you”. Jesus said it is the way of a child (Matthew 18:1-6). The greatness of an individual is whether or not he or she can resolve to be and live content as a servant. It is the way Jesus understood it. Can we understand the same?
Although, we might pride our self in being enough, know enough, or having enough, each of us are never enough. We are all empty and not enough compared to God. When you read 2 Timothy 3:1-7 and envision how many attempts were and are made to FILL self, you see the emptiness. The opposite of FULL of Self is the “fullness of Christ”. “…in him ye are made full…” (Colossians 1:9,10). In that statement is all-sufficiency. Nothing is lacking. Completeness is the goal. The view toward fullness is God, not inside me.
God is the filler through Jesus Christ as “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Christ is the only thing we need. Paul knew this and wanted to be filled and know everything about Jesus (Philippians 3:7-10). He knew emptying himself of self was the only way Jesus would be enough and not himself (v.7). The truth about being FULL comes from “the righteousness of God by faith” (v.9). Therefore, turn off your voice and ideas and keep the voice of God on full blast!!...
