Embracing Humility: The Journey from Pride to Service

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the contrasting lives of Adam I and Adam II, as described by David Brooks. Adam I operates on a utilitarian logic, where effort leads to reward, and success is measured by worldly achievements. In contrast, Adam II lives by a moral logic, where true fulfillment comes from giving, surrendering, and even dying to oneself to truly live. This dichotomy reflects a broader cultural shift towards what Brooks calls the "culture of the big me," where self-importance and narcissism have become more prevalent. This is evidenced by the dramatic increase in young people who consider themselves very important compared to previous generations.

C.S. Lewis, in "Mere Christianity," highlights pride as the most dangerous sin, as it is inherently competitive and sets us against others. Pride blinds us to our own faults and distances us from God. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector illustrates this, showing how pride can make us oblivious to our own shortcomings. The Bible warns that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, emphasizing the importance of humility in our spiritual journey.

Humility is not just a virtue but a necessity for growth and transformation. It requires us to regularly examine our lives, acknowledge our flaws, and seek God's help in overcoming them. Jesus, as the last Adam, exemplifies this humility. He came to end the line of pride and initiate a new humanity characterized by humility and service. By following His example, we can engage in acts of service and kindness, allowing us to grow in character and align ourselves with God's kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

- The contrast between Adam I and Adam II highlights the difference between living for worldly success and living a life of moral integrity. Adam II's life is marked by giving and surrender, which leads to true fulfillment. This challenges us to evaluate our own lives and consider what truly matters. [04:40]

- Pride is a subtle yet dangerous sin that blinds us to our own faults and distances us from God. It is inherently competitive, making us feel superior to others. Recognizing and addressing pride is crucial for spiritual growth and aligning ourselves with God's will. [07:09]

- Humility is essential for personal and spiritual growth. It requires regular self-examination and acknowledgment of our flaws. By seeking God's help, we can overcome pride and grow in character, becoming more like Christ. [10:17]

- Jesus, as the last Adam, exemplifies humility and service. He came to end the line of pride and initiate a new humanity characterized by humility. By following His example, we can engage in acts of service and kindness, aligning ourselves with God's kingdom. [12:02]

- Engaging in acts of menial service and kindness helps us grow in humility and character. By serving others, we align ourselves with the values of the second Adam and participate in the transformation that Jesus initiated. [12:43]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:40] - The Logic of Adam I and Adam II
[05:08] - The Culture of the Big Me
[05:40] - Rise of Narcissism
[06:52] - C.S. Lewis on Pride
[07:22] - The Competitive Nature of Pride
[08:21] - God Opposes the Proud
[09:22] - Lessons from Surfing
[10:02] - Daily Self-Examination
[11:01] - Jesus as the Ultimate Role Model
[11:32] - The Last Adam
[12:02] - Ending the Line of Pride
[12:28] - Exemplars of Humility
[12:43] - Engaging in Acts of Service
[12:55] - Embracing the Second Adam

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 18:9-14 - The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
2. James 4:6 - "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
3. 1 Corinthians 15:45 - "So it is written: 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit."

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Observation Questions:

1. In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, what attitudes do the two characters display, and how do these attitudes affect their relationship with God? [07:52]

2. According to the sermon, how does the "culture of the big me" manifest in today's society, and what statistics were shared to illustrate this shift? [05:22]

3. What does C.S. Lewis identify as the most dangerous sin, and why is it considered so harmful? [07:09]

4. How does the sermon describe the difference between Adam I and Adam II, and what logic does each represent? [04:40]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector illustrate the dangers of pride and the value of humility in one's spiritual life? [07:52]

2. What might be the implications of living in a "culture of the big me" for personal relationships and community life? How does this culture contrast with the values of Adam II? [05:08]

3. In what ways does pride act as a barrier to receiving God's grace, according to the sermon and the Bible passages? [08:21]

4. How does Jesus, as the last Adam, provide a model for overcoming pride and embracing humility? What does this mean for believers today? [12:02]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be living more like Adam I, focused on worldly success, rather than like Adam II, focused on moral integrity and humility? How can you shift your focus? [04:40]

2. Consider the "culture of the big me" in your own context. How have you seen this culture influence your actions or thoughts? What steps can you take to counteract this influence in your daily life? [05:08]

3. Pride can be subtle and hard to recognize. What are some practical ways you can regularly examine your life for pride and seek God's help in overcoming it? [09:45]

4. Jesus exemplified humility and service. Identify one act of service you can perform this week to follow His example. How can this act help you grow in character and align with God's kingdom? [12:43]

5. Think about a recent situation where pride may have affected your interactions with others. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future to foster humility and grace? [07:09]

6. How can you incorporate a practice of daily self-examination into your routine to identify and address character flaws? What might this practice look like for you? [10:02]

7. Reflect on the concept of the last Adam as a life-giving spirit. How can this understanding of Jesus inspire you to live a life characterized by humility and service? [11:32]

Devotional

Day 1: The Pursuit of True Fulfillment
In a world that often equates success with material achievements, the contrast between Adam I and Adam II challenges us to reconsider what truly matters. Adam I represents a life driven by utilitarian logic, where effort is rewarded with worldly success. However, Adam II embodies a life of moral integrity, where fulfillment is found in giving, surrendering, and selflessness. This perspective invites us to evaluate our own lives and question whether we are pursuing temporary achievements or lasting fulfillment. By embracing the values of Adam II, we can find deeper meaning and purpose beyond the superficial measures of success. [04:40]

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you are striving for worldly success. How can you shift your focus to seek fulfillment through giving and surrendering in that area today?


Day 2: The Subtle Danger of Pride
Pride is a subtle yet dangerous sin that blinds us to our own faults and distances us from God. It is inherently competitive, making us feel superior to others and setting us against them. This competitive nature of pride can lead to a distorted self-image and hinder our spiritual growth. Recognizing and addressing pride is crucial for aligning ourselves with God's will. By acknowledging our pride, we open ourselves to God's grace and the possibility of transformation. The Bible warns that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, emphasizing the importance of humility in our spiritual journey. [07:09]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a recent situation where pride influenced your actions or thoughts. How can you approach similar situations with humility and grace in the future?


Day 3: The Necessity of Humility
Humility is not just a virtue but a necessity for personal and spiritual growth. It requires us to regularly examine our lives, acknowledge our flaws, and seek God's help in overcoming them. By practicing humility, we open ourselves to transformation and become more like Christ. Jesus, as the last Adam, exemplifies this humility, ending the line of pride and initiating a new humanity characterized by service and selflessness. By following His example, we can engage in acts of service and kindness, allowing us to grow in character and align ourselves with God's kingdom. [10:17]

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a specific flaw or weakness you struggle with. How can you invite God into this area of your life to help you grow in humility and character?


Day 4: Jesus as the Ultimate Role Model
Jesus, as the last Adam, exemplifies humility and service. He came to end the line of pride and initiate a new humanity characterized by humility. By following His example, we can engage in acts of service and kindness, aligning ourselves with God's kingdom. Jesus' life challenges us to move beyond self-centeredness and embrace a life of selflessness and service. By doing so, we participate in the transformation that Jesus initiated and become part of a new humanity that reflects God's love and grace. [12:02]

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent opportunity you had to serve others. How can you intentionally seek out and engage in acts of service this week, following Jesus' example?


Day 5: Growing in Humility Through Service
Engaging in acts of menial service and kindness helps us grow in humility and character. By serving others, we align ourselves with the values of the second Adam and participate in the transformation that Jesus initiated. Service is not just an action but a posture of the heart that reflects our commitment to living out the values of God's kingdom. As we serve, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our interconnectedness with others, fostering a spirit of humility and gratitude. [12:43]

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a simple act of service you can perform today for someone in your community. How can this act help you grow in humility and reflect God's love to those around you?

Quotes


Adam one lives by a straightforward utilitarian logic, it's the logic of Economics input leads to Output effort leads to reward practice makes perfect maximize utility impress the world Adam II lives by an inverse logic, it's a moral logic not an economic one you have to give to receive you have to surrender in order to win you have to die in order to live. [00:04:29]

C.S Lewis in Mere Christianity writes something that is often not understood about Christianity people often is so Christianity and Christian morality with uh very judgmental attitudes about sexuality and so, Lewis notes that throughout history most Christian thinkers have said that pride is the number one sin the most dangerous sin, yes why would that be, and it's because pride is essentially competitive. [00:06:45]

We will say about people that they are proud of being rich or smart or strong or pretty but that's not really true we are proud of being richer or or stronger or prettier or smarter pride in a way that other sins don't lost your greed or so on sets us up against everybody in many ways pride is um the anti-love. [00:07:13]

One of the difficulties with pride is it is so dangerous to recognize that ourselves if I'm stealing or lying or committing adultery there's a good chance that I know about it but pride gets right into the heart of our religious faith, Jesus story about the parable and I mean the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee the Pharisee is consumed with pride I thank God that I'm not like and is utterly blind to it. [00:07:41]

In fact Lewis is one of the great tests of pride is if I find myself thinking that I am in any way better than anybody else then I can be pretty confident it is the devil and not God that is at work in me, it's Pride that provides maybe the strongest warning in Scripture that that is stated in the Old Testament but repeated in multiple places in the New Testament God opposes the proud. [00:08:07]

What gives grace to the humble and this is not arbitrary it's intrinsic to the nature of Pride you can't do anything with a proud person because they refuse it is a moral law of the universe it's not just God addiction opposes the pride proud but gives grace to the humble if you're an addict if you'll humble yourself get a sponsor do what your sponsor says go to a bunch of meetings start working the steps. [00:08:37]

Acknowledge your powerlessness Surrender Your will if you will humble you will be given Grace to be sober otherwise not wisdom opposes Pride but gives Grace to them friendship very hard to find a narcissist with a lot of really good friends learning, I was surfing quite recently with my unpaid surf instructor and he said to me you are violating the golden rule of surfing. [00:09:06]

Now key question for today is are you taking a look at your life on a regular basis in humility, Brooks writes about a friend of his who every evening when he goes to bed looks back over the day and just seeks to look for uh where were my flaws at work, what were the problems in my character most evident and what can I learn God how can I grow in the midst of those flaws so that I can be a little different do a little moral change a little bit on this next day. [00:09:47]

So let me ask you right now, think about this last day yesterday if it's early in the morning or today if it's towards the end of your day today and ask where have my character flaws been at work what did I say that was wrong where did my thoughts go wrong where did I not obey the Golden Rule Jesus Golden Rule the real golden rule. [00:10:23]

And if you can't think of a single thing either you have achieved daily perfection or there's a humility issue here and you need to begin to work on a daily basis to ask God God would you help me and God will now this takes humility too and this brings us back to Jesus who is the ultimate role model for humility. [00:10:47]

Paul wrote first Corinthians 15 45 so it is written the first Adam became a living being, the last atom a life-giving spirit, who's the last Adam well that would be Jesus, the first man was of the Dust of the Earth the second man from Heaven Adam one Adam two Paul here says that Jesus is the last Adam there's a line of people. [00:11:26]

Jesus came to be the end of that line he is the last Adam when he died on the cross he was saying change is coming that's over last Adam second man he's the beginning he's the Prototype of a new version of humanity and he will help me, God knows I need it, watching and listening to that service for Tim yesterday I thought about how many people are there who have been wonderful exemplars of humility and nobody knows about their memorial service but God does. [00:12:04]

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Transcript
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