PRIDE

This article is written to let you know the deadly sin of pride. It is so much better to humble yourself before God, repent and believe in Jesus Christ to receive the forgiveness of sins and the eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Human beings are miserable and sinful creatures, yet they have pride not because of their strength and superiority. Men have pride because exactly of their weakness and inferiority; they have to pride themselves in wealth, fame, power, position, possession, property, profession, pornography, pleasure, etc. in order to satisfy their needs, rather their lusts. They could never find satisfactions in the things cited and aforementioned, so they want more and more and more, until their lives are consumed and years wasted. Here lies the miserable end of human existence without God and without hope in this evil and ungodly and wicked world. Above all, poor miserable creatures do not realize or they do not wat to know mankind has to be accountable to God in the end. They thought and wish death is the end of everything. They never know or do not want to know, after death is judgment. 

Psa 75:5, “Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.’”

God does not like insolent pride. Insolent in Hebrew is ʿāṯāq which means bold; forward; arrogant; stiff; grievous; hard; impudent; wicked; – which occurs 4 times in the Old Testament. What is insolent pride? In ancient times man wore gold chain as ornament on his neck. So to show off his gold chain ornament, a proud man spoke with his neck moving to and fro. If you watch some Western leaders speak, you will recognize they speak with insolent pride also.

Pro 21:24, ““Proud,” “Arrogant,” “Scoffer,” are his names, one who acts with insolent pride.”

Pro 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But with the humble there is wisdom.”

Dishonor follows pride.

Pro 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.”

The first sin committed in the universe was pride, and the sinner was Lucifer. Destruction follows pride.

It was Samuel Taylor Coleridge who said, “And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.”

Isa 14:12-19, “How you have fallen from Heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
You have been cut down to the earth,
You who defeated the nations!

“But you said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to Heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.

‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’

“Nevertheless you will be brought down to Sheol,
To the recesses of the Pit.

“Those who see you will stare at you,
They will closely examine you, saying,
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,

Who made the world like a wilderness
And overthrew its cities,
Who did not allow his prisoners to go home?’

“All the kings of the nations lie in glory,
Each in his own tomb.

“But you have been hurled out of your tomb
Like a rejected branch,
Clothed with those killed who have been pierced with a sword,
Who go down to the stones of the Pit
Like a trampled corpse.”

The fallen angel had five fatal “I will.”

All sins are conceived by self.

‘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

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’

No one can be like the Most High.

The creature can never become like the Creator.

The devil used the same dirty trick on Eve, 

Gen 3:5, “For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.”

If Eve was not seduced, the whole history of mankind would be different. However, there is something that the Lord Jesus wants Christians to be like the Father.

Mat 5:48, “Therefore you shall be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” To be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect is a sanctified ambition.  Sinful men do not want to be perfect, merciful, longsuffering, compassionate, holy, etc. But sinful men want to be like God in power, glory, honor, majesty, dominion, authority, sovereignty, Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence, etc.

Emily Bronte said to the point, “Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves.” 

Remember Lucifer and Eve. Henry Ward Beecher had an insight, “A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” I have many things to be grateful to my Heavenly Father. I was terrified and grateful that I was not eaten by a crocodile when I was a stupid boy. Now as an old man everyday I am looking forward to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Heb 12:28, “Therefore, since we receive a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”

Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, trans. D.C. Lau

“The whole world recognizes the beautiful as the beautiful, yet this is only the ugly; the whole world recognizes the good as the good, yet this is only the bad.”  “The court is corrupt, The fields are overgrown with weeds, 

The granaries are empty; Yet there are those dressed in fineries, 

With swords at their sides, Filled with food and drink, 

And possessed of too much wealth. This is known as taking the lead in robbery. Far indeed is this from the way.”  

James Bryce thought the system of democratic government in America is such that it is hardly calculated to attract the best men of the country into politics. I think the strenuousness of a presidential campaign alone is enough to frighten off all the wise souls of America…Who is he that he should want to reform other people and uplift their morals and send other people into an insane asylum? But these primary and secondary humbugs keep him happily busy, if he is successful, and give him the illusion that he is really doing something and is therefore ‘somebody’.”  

Pro 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.”

Shame follows pride. Why? Pride falls and fails.

Pro 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Not only shame comes after pride, destruction also follows pride.

Oba 1:3, “The pride of your heart has deceived you,
You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high;
You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’”

The pride of the hearts of American leaders and politicians have deceived themselves. Although they lost the Vietnam War, the Afghanistan War, etc. they have not learned how to change and conduct themselves in pursuit of peace and prosperity. They have not learned from President Richard Nixon.

Francesco Petrarca was right, “Five enemies of peace inhabit with us – avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.”

I. WHAT IS PRIDE

In the Old Testament there are several words in Hebrew which mean the same as the English word pride.

Lev 26:19, ‘‘I will also break down your pride of power; and I will make your sky like iron and your earth like bronze.”

Pride in Hebrew is gā’ôn which means arrogance; pomp; excellency; swelling; exaltation; majesty; sublimity; – which occurs 49 times in the Old Testament.

2Ch 32:26, “However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.”

Pride here in Hebrew is gōḇah which means height; loftiness; haughtiness; excellency; exaltation; grandeur; arrogance; elation; magnificence; majesty; – which occurs 17 times in the Old Testament. Because Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, so the wrath of God did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

Job 33:17, “So that He may turn a person away from bad conduct, and keep a man from pride;”

Pride here in Hebrew is gēvâ which means lifting up; arrogance; exaltation; – which occurs 3 times in the Old Testament. Pride is a bad conduct.

Job 41:15, “His strong scales are his pride, Locked as with a tight seal.”

Pride here in Hebrew is ga’ăvâ which means haughtiness; arrogance; excellence; highness; swelling; rising up; majesty; magnificence; splendor; – which occurs 19 times in the Old Testament. The strong scales of a crocodile are its pride. Do men have strong scales to protect themselves?

Job 41:34, “He looks on everything that is high;
He is king over all the sons of pride.”

Pride here in Hebrew is šaḥaṣ which means lion; dignity; elation; – which occurs 2 times in the Old Testament. Sons of pride call themselves son of lion the king of beast. Ignorance or not, the Chinese emperors called themselves sons of dragon. Dragon is another name for devil.

Psa 75:5, “Do not lift up your horn on high,
Do not speak with insolent pride.’”

Pride here in Hebrew is ṣaûā’r which means neck; back of neck; back of neck, of man, wearing gold chain as ornament; necklace; thus speak not with arrogant neck means not to speak with insolent pride.

Psa 90:10, “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy;
For it quickly passes, and we disappear.”

Here pride in Hebrew is rōhaḇ which means arrogance; object of pride; strength; that of which one is proud; – which occurs 1 time in the Old Testament. The pride of a human life is only trouble and tragedy. The rich and powerful also cannot escape from trouble and tragedy.

Pro 8:13, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate.”

Here pride in Hebrew is gē’â which means arrogance; – which occurs 1 times in the Old Testament. The fear of the Lord prevents man from pride and arrogance. 

Pro 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But with the humble there is wisdom.”

Dishonor follows pride. Dishonor comes after pride.

Pride here in Hebrew is zāḏôn which means presumptuousness; arrogance; insolence; godlessness; swelling; haughtiness; – which occurs 11 times in the Old Testament. Dishonor comes after pride. 

Isa 2:17, “And the pride of humanity will be humbled
And the arrogance of people will be brought low;
And the LORD alone will be exalted on that day.”

Pride here in Hebrew is gaḇhûṯ which means loftiness; haughtiness; – which occurs 2 times in the Old Testament. Humanity has no pride, in some way some animals have more pride than humanity.

Isa 10:12, “So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the arrogant pride of his eyes.”

Pride here in Hebrew is tip̄’ārâ which means glory; beauty; honor; splendor; boasting; bravery; – which occurs 51 times in the Old Testament. The eyes reflect the arrogant pride of man.

Isa 16:6, “We have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride; even of his arrogance, pride, and fury; his idle boasts are false.”

Pride here in Hebrew is gē’ê which means lofty; arrogant; lifted up; high; – which occurs 8 times in the Old Testament. America, UK, Canada, and Australia exhibit excessive pride in boycotting Beijing Winter Olympics.

Dan 4:37, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of Heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just; and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

Here pride in Hebrew is gēvâ which means absolute pride; – which occurs 1 times in the Old Testament. 

It does not take a Hebrew scholar to know that pride is a very complicated concept in Hebrew. A man can be proud in many ways.

Mar 7:21-22, “For from within, out of the hearts of people, come the evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery,

deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behavior, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”

In the New Testament Jesus is the first to point out pride and other things are out of the hearts of people.

Pride in Greek is hyperēphania which means arrogance; haughtiness; the character of one who, with a swollen estimate of his own powers or merits, looks down on others and even treats them with insolence and contempt (Strong’s Concordance); – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Jesus’ concept of pride is very clear and cuts to the heart.

I agree with Sophocles, “All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.” Too bad, not many know that their course is wrong. For 500 years the white Europeans have not learned that their course is wrong and Americans plunge into the same dark path of destruction. 

Augustine said, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”

Billy Graham had this right, “Self-centered indulgence, pride and a lack of shame over sin are now emblems of the American lifestyle.”

American lifestyle is getting more and more outrageous and ridiculous that you can’t tell a man from a woman, a woman from a man; because genders have many classifications and categories beyond the grasp of ordinary people. There are people who take pride in same-sex marriage and homosexuality.

Martin Luther said years ago, “The god of this world is riches, pleasure and pride.” Surprisingly, the three prevalent values of America and the world today are money, power and sex.

I will give you a picture of a proud man: he is a man who has no wisdom, but full of self-hallucinations and puffed up with fanciful vanities. George Eliot had keen insight when she said about a proud man, “He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow.”

II. Words Related to Pride

According to Merriam-Webster, 

Words Related to pride

• · aplomb, 
• · assurance, 
• · confidence, 
• · self-assurance, 
• · self-assuredness, 
• · self-confidence, 
• · self-pride, 
• · self-trust, 
• · self-worth
• · dignity, 
• · face, 
• · honor, 
• · prestige

But I just select only two words, arrogance and vanity.

There are even people who think their successes are due to arrogance. It is like to say dog feces is a delicious dish.

Jer 49:16, “As for the terror you cause,
The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
You who live in the clefts of the rock,
Who occupy the height of the hill.
Though you make your nest as high as an eagle’s,
I will bring you down from there,” declares the LORD.”

I used to wonder how lofty Western leaders caused terror in the world, I have found the answer is the arrogance of their hearts have deceived them.

Leo Tolstoy said, “An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person’s main task in life – becoming a better person.”

Let us agree for now with Tolstoy’s thesis for the time being that a person’s main task in life – becoming a better person. But I disagree that an arrogant person considers himself perfect. In my observations, all arrogant persons consider themselves superior, superior in ability and morality. I have never met an arrogant person who is truly morally excellent. I often argue, if you are right then you do not need to get angry. If you are wrong, anger would not justify you. 

Someone said, “Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change. “

Some poor stud chose honest arrogance. There may be hypocritical humility, but there is no such a thing called honest arrogance, just as there

is no honest fraud. A man may go down to Hell and still thinks he is honest.

Isa 13:11, “So I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their wrongdoing; I will also put an end to the audacity of the proud
and humiliate the arrogance of the tyrants.”

There was an American leader, he is the incarnation of the audacity of the proud, and the arrogance of the tyrants. God will put an end to the audacity of the proud and humiliate the arrogance of the tyrants.

The worst kind of arrogance is arrogance for the sake of arrogance. There are people who are simply arrogant, they do not know why they are arrogant. It is like peacock that displays itself.

Pride is the mother of arrogance. Arrogance is a bastard son of pride, vanity is its promiscuous daughter. Isa 9:9, “And all the people know it,
That is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria,
Asserting in pride and in arrogance of heart:”

Pride is the mother of arrogance, it is conceived in the heart.

Arrogance may be doing something for an inadequate person, it is certainly not doing anything for the country.

I agree with Samuel Butler, “The truest characters of ignorance are vanity and pride and arrogance.” 

I was surprised but I agree with Joe Biden who said, 

“This nuclear option is ultimately an example of the arrogance of power. “ There is no nuclear option for mankind. The West has exhibited too much arrogance of power in the last 500 years. It is hoped Joe Biden will stick to his word and never uses the nuclear option against Russia and China.

Arrogance is a beggar naked without clothes. I agree with Albert Einstein who said, “The only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance.” Western and American leaders and politicians have conducted themselves most dangerously and arrogantly. I saw a Western diplomat with a pale and ghastly face like a corpse, and yet he exhibits an air of arrogance. The Word of God is descriptive, Pro 30:13, “There is a kind—oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.”

Eze 7:10, “Behold, the day! Behold, it is coming! Your doom has gone forth; the rod has budded, arrogance has blossomed.”

In some of Hollywood movies, you can see “arrogance has blossomed.” Sadly, many nations copy Hollywood’s blossomed arrogance in making movies of violence and vulgarity. 

I agree with Manoj Vaz who said, “Arrogance is nothing but Stupidity with an ego.” 

Walter Russell Mead said, “What begins in arrogance often ends in shame.” 

The Scripture says, Psa 119:78, “May the arrogant be put to shame, because they lead me astray with a lie;
But I shall meditate on Your precepts.” 

Arrogance is not bigness, it is swelling like a frog blowing up itself. It is most pathetic to watch a little man acting and talking like a big man. If you have not met some, try to watch TV.

Someone said, “Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit, for merit itself is offensive.”  The arrogance of those who have merit is like a woman who uncovers her buttock.

I agree with Nicolas Gomez Davila although I do not know who he was. “The modern mentality is the child of human vanity puffed up by commercial advertising.” This is true in all Western nations.

Ecc 7:8, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better than arrogance of spirit.”

Do you want to watch the arrogance of spirit? Watch the way Western leaders and politicians speak.

The highest form of vanity is not love of fame. Worse, it is love of self. Lucifer had it. Eve had it. Christians are told  Rom 6:6, “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin  might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.” Eph 4:22-24, “that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are 

to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put

on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

Jas 4:16, “But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.”

Inevitably arrogant people boast, all such boasting is evil. God considers pride, arrogance and boast evil.

Job 20:6, “Though his arrogance reaches the Heavens, and his head touches the clouds.”

Arrogance has lofty goal, it reaches the Heavens.

It is my estimate that the arrogance of the West has reached the Heavens. The heads of Western leaders and politicians touch the clouds. For example, the West prides themselves in democracy, but their form of democracy is phony. What is democracy when one percent of population rules over the 99 percent and owns most of the power and wealth? What kind of human rights when justice is perverted and abuse of power is prevalent and racial discrimination is rampant?

1Sa 2:3, “Do not go on boasting so very proudly, Do not let arrogance 

come out of your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.”

God does not like arrogance, and He weighs the actions of man.

“vanity” occurs 89 times in 81 verses in the YLT.
Page 1 / 2 exact matches (Job 7:3–Ecc 7:6)

Job 15:31, “Let him not put credence in vanity, he has been deceived, for vanity is his recompense.”

A man must not put credence in vanity, for doing so is to be deceived; vanity is his recompense. 

Years ago I discovered there is vanity in beauty, but no beauty in vanity. This applies to both male and female. Often a vain male is worse than a vain female.

Job 31:5, “If I have walked with vanity, and my foot does hasten to deceit.”

If a man walks with vanity, and his foot hastens to deceit. All vain people resort to deceit. The state of the world is very bad when lie and falsehood become fashionable.

Psa 39:5, “Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vanity.”

This is a truth that the rich and powerful will soon find out: Certainly every man at his best state is but vanity.

Eph 4:17, “So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also  walk, in the vanity of their minds.”

Vanity in Greek is mataiotēs which means what is devoid of truth and appropriateness (Strong’s Concordance); perverseness; depravity; frailty; fruitlessness; transience; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. The modus operandi of Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood is the vanity of their minds.

If you spend some time and effort, you soon discover theologians and philosophers walk in the vanity of their minds. If you watch Western leaders and politicians, you soon find them walking in the vanity of their minds. The knowledge of self will preserve the virtuous from vanity; while the knowledge of self will prompt the wicked to display vanity.

Victor Hugo has good insight when he said, “Stupidity talks, vanity acts.” Because arrogance and vanity are children of pride, like mother like daughters. Both the acts of arrogance and vanity are not pretty to look at because they are spiritually naked and ugly. Something is morally defective and mentally deficient when one is motivated by vanity. Blaise Pascal had keen sight when he said, “Vanity is but the surface.” All vain people are superficial. When I was in Europe, they told me Americans are superficial. When I was in Washington, D.C. they told me Californians are superficial. All vain people are superficial. 

The wicked let arrogance and vanity walk through their mind with their dirty feet. The pure out of the integrity of his mind shuts them out.

Ecc 1:2, “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

All is vanity includes self, self-interest, power, money, pleasure, this life, this world, all human works, all the days of your life, all sorts of evil, all things you cherished, all things that were luxurious and splendid, all things that are what the nations of the world eagerly seek, all things that can be destroyed, all things of the world, all things not for the glory of God, all things not in truth, all things not in accordance with the plan of God’s will, all things not subjected to Christ — all is vanity. 

2Co 10:5, “We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Above all, Christians are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Science, theology and philosophy of the world have many arguments and arrogance raised against the knowledge of God. Christians must reject those “arguments and arrogance” and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Marcus Aurelius said something to the point:

“Look at the minds of those who seek fame, observe what they are, and what kind of things they avoid, and what kind of things they pursue. And consider that as the heaps of sand piled on one another hide the former sands, so in life the events which go before are soon covered by those which come after.” 

Jane Austen was shrewd to say, “Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”

I agree with Emily Bronte who said, “Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves.”

C.G. Jung was right, “Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune.”  Western leaders and politicians are good examples of people “something is out of tune” but they never hear a still, small voice says to them. (1Ki 19:12)

Andrew Murray was right, “Pride must die in you, or nothing of Heaven can live in you.”  If pride dwells in our heart, nothing of Heaven has room to live in.

Pride is the mother of arrogance; for arrogance is the manifestation of pride. You never see a humble person with arrogance.  Pride takes pleasure in thinking highly of oneself. Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us natural. I agree with Samuel Butler who said, “The truest characters of ignorance are vanity and pride and arrogance.”

All money does not mean a pride in accomplishment. Monopolists make money easy way. Corrupt doctors and hospitals are organized criminals who charge whatever they please with immunity and impunity. Scam artists defraud a bundle of money without skill.  Once my professor asked me what went wrong with the Savings and Loan industry and insurance companies. I told him Savings and Loans who took in your money and gave you 3% interest, when you make loan they charged you 8% interest — does not have any skill at all. When you can borrow at a $1 million against your life insurance policy and pay 8% interest, insurance executives did not have any skill at all. When the market paid 24% interest, Savings & Loans and Insurance companies still charged 8% interest, there skills are required and so most Savings & Loans and Insurance companies went bankrupt. 

Jean-Jacques Rousseau boldly said, “The English are predisposed to pride, the French vanity.” I have been to the two nations and met multitudes of their peoples. That was the reason I do not like the two countries.

There is a secret bottom-line self-respect and spirit in every human heart that revolts against tyranny. You may order and drive an individual, but you cannot make him respect you.

1Jo 2:16, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride 

of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” The lust of the flesh is sex. The lust of the eyes is money or wealth. The boastful pride of life is power. These three things are all that is in the world, and cherished by the world.

There are two things that characterize human moral failure and character flaw more than anything else in the world, namely, arrogance and violence. An arrogant person may not be violent; but a violent person is always arrogant. On TV recently I witnessed a black big man who exhibited maximum violence and arrogance by stepping on and trampling over the small body and head of an Asian woman repeatedly, while another big black man was watching at a glass door of another store. The worst thing about this evil deed maybe the fact that the big black man did not know at all this unfortunate small Asian woman and she never did anything wrong to the big black man. God knows.

Everything stained by the world, has pride in one or another of these things, and arrogance and vanity.

III.  PRIDE OF FAME

George Santaya considered Love of fame the highest form of vanity.

Lin Yutang was among the most famous Chinese, he said, “Fame is one of humbugs of this life.”

When evil Japanese aggressors occupied China, they first killed those famous in towns. That is the way to eliminate leadership. You have less resistance without leadership. Only God knows how many evil deeds committed by the Japanese militarists that wared war against China in14 years.

Francois de La Rochefoucauld was a sharp thinker who said, “The fame of great men ought to be judged always by the means they used to acquire it.”  I have no respect for the fame of a general that many died for him needlessly.

George Santayana reasoned brilliantly, “The highest form of vanity is love of fame. It is a passion easy to deride but hard to understand, and in men who live at all by imagination almost impossible to eradicate. The good opinion of posterity can have no possible effect on our fortunes, and the practical value which reputation may temporarily have is quite absent in posthumous fame. The direct object of this passion — that a name should survive in men’s mouths to which no adequate idea of its original can be attached — seems a thin and fantastic satisfaction, especially when we consider how little we should probably sympathize with the creatures that are to remember us. What comfort would it be to Virgil that boys still read him at school, or to Pindar that he is sometimes mentioned in a world from which everything he loved has departed? Yet, beneath this desire for nominal longevity, apparently so inane, there may lurk an ideal ambition of which the ancients cannot have been unconscious when they set so high a value on fame. They often identified fame with immortality, a subject on which they had far more rational sentiments than have since prevailed.”

Lin Yutang said, “There is a wealth of humbug in this life, but the multitudinous little humbugs have been classified by Chinese Buddhists under two big humbugs: fame and wealth. There is a story that Emperor Ch’ienlung once went up a hill overlooking the sea during his trip to South China and saw a great number of sailing ships busily plying the China Sea to and fro. He asked his minister what the people in those hundreds of ships were doing, and his minister replied that he saw only two ships, and their names were ‘Fame’ and ‘Wealth’. Many cultured persons were able to escape the lure of wealth, but only the very greatest could escape the lure of fame. Once a monk was discoursing with his pupil on these two sources of worldly cares, and said: ‘It is easier to get rid of the desire for money than to get rid of the desire for fame. Even retired scholars and monks still want to be distinguished and well-known among their company. They want to give public discourses to a large audience, and not retire to a small monastery talking to one pupil, like you and me now.’ The pupil replied: ‘Indeed, Master, you are the only man in the world who has conquered the desire for fame!’ And the Master smiled. 

“From my own observation of life, this Buddhist classification of life’s humbugs is not complete, and the great humbugs of life are three, instead of two: Fame, Wealth and Power. There is a convenient American word which again combines these three humbugs into the One Great Humbug: Success. But many wise men know that the desires for success, fame and wealth are euphemistic names for the fears of failure, poverty and obscurity, and that these fears dominate our lives. There are many people who have already attained both fame and wealth, but who still insist on ruling others. They are the people who have consecrated their lives to the service of their country. The price is often very heavy. Ask a wise man to wave his silk hat to a crowd and make seven speeches a day and give him a presidency, and he will refuse to serve his country. James Bryce thinks the system of democratic government in America is such that it is hardly calculated to attract the best men of the country into politics. I think the strenuousness of a presidential campaign alone is enough to frighten off all the wise souls of America…Who is he that he should want to reform other people and uplift their morals and send other people into an insane asylum? But these primary and secondary humbugs keep him happily busy, if he is successful, and give him the illusion that he is really doing something and is therefore ‘somebody’.” 

Although I do not know Erma Bombeck, I agree with what she said, “Don’t confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Helen Keller is the other.” 

IV.  PRIDE OF POWER

Lev 26:19, “I will also break down your pride of power; and I will make your sky like iron and your earth like bronze.”

The most malicious and vicious concept of power was conceived Niccolo Machiavelli who said, 

“Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.”  That is the power politics practiced by American and European supremacists and also by Islamic terrorists.

Lord Acton was right, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Power belongs to God. Man is unfit to exercise power. Only God is worthy to have absolute power.

I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.’’ I knew a white man who was without job experience and work skill, when he was promoted to be a supervisor by another veteran, the poor man lost his head and ran his little unit like the military. One of the major reasons of the American corporate failure is Theory X managers. I found it sour when an Internet article praised Theory X managers. Little do they know Theory X manager or supervisor is autocratic, authoritarian, bossy, irrational because he considers everything wrong what he does not know. Besides a Theory X supervisor throws a tantrum like a child with an iron hand. His pathological personality blossomed.

Whoever thought that Abraham Lincoln has a prophetic insight, “I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country… corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” 

Frank Herbert had a point when he said, “All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible.” 

George Bernard Shaw expressed similar view, “Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power. “

I agree with Edward Abbey who said, “Power is always dangerous. Power attracts the worst and corrupts the best. “

Peter Joseph had insight when he said, “The true terrorists of our world do not meet at the docks at midnight, or scream “Allahu Akbar” before some violent action. The true terrorists of our world wear 5000 dollar suits and work in the highest positions of finance, government and business.”

James Madison had experience when he said, “The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.”

I agree with Thomas Jefferson who said, “Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.”

Don’t you see America is heading that way?

Edmund Burke had learned from political history, “Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. But the truth is, this unnatural power corrupts both the heart and the understanding.”

William Henry Harrison knew what he was talking, “There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.”

Power belongs to God; it is unsafe in the hands of men.

V.  PRIDE OF POSITION

Position entails authority, and authority comes with glory. For that reason, people of the world cherish position.

There is a Biblical incident that describes the power of position. Asa was a good king who did what was right in the sight of the Lord, like his father David.

1Ki 15:12-14, “He also removed the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols which his fathers had made. And even his mother Maacah, he also removed her from the position of queen mother, because she had made an abominable image as an Asherah; and Asa cut down her abominable image and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not eliminated; nevertheless Asa’s heart was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days.”

King Asa removed even his mother Maacah, because she had made an abominable image. There is no tolerance for idolatry. 

The history was so interesting and instructive that I must quote the whole chapter,  2Ki 7:1-20, “Then 

Elisha said, “Listen to the Word of the LORD; this is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’” The royal officer on whose hand the king was leaning responded to the man of God and said, “Even if the LORD were to make windows in Heaven, could this thing happen?” Then he said, “Behold, you are going to see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it.”

Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ then the famine is in the city and we will die there; but if we sit here, we will also die. Now then come, and let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, then we will die.”

So they got up at twilight to go to the camp of the Arameans; when they came to the outskirts of the camp of the Arameans, behold, there was no one there. For the Lord had made the army of the Arameans hear a sound of chariots, a sound of horses, that is, the sound of a great army; and they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians against us, to attack us!”

So they got up and fled at twilight, and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—indeed the camp itself, just as it was; and they fled for their lives.

When these men with leprosy came to the outskirts of the camp, they entered one tent and ate and drank, and carried from there silver, gold, and clothes, and they went and hid them; then they returned and entered another tent, and carried valuables from there also, and went and hid them.

Then they said to one another, “We are not doing the right thing. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent about it; if we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now then come, let’s go and inform the king’s household.”

So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, “We came to the camp of the Arameans, and behold, there was no one there, nor a human voice; only the horses tied and the donkeys tied, and the tents just as they were.”

And the gatekeepers called and announced it inside the king’s house.

Then the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; so they have left the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we will capture them alive and get into the city.’”

One of his servants responded and said, “Please, have some men take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they will be like all the multitude of Israel who have already perished, so let us send them and see.”

Therefore they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the army of the Arameans, saying, “Go and see.”

They went after them to the Jordan, and behold, all the way was full of clothes and equipment which the Arameans had thrown away when they fled in a hurry. Then the messengers returned and informed the king.

So the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. Then a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in accordance with the Word of the LORD.

Now the king appointed the royal officer on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; but the people trampled on him at the gate, and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.

So it happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two measures of barley for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, will be sold about this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria.”

At that time the royal officer had responded to the man of God and said, “Now even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could such a thing as this happen?” And he had said, “Behold, you are going to see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it.”

And this is what happened to him, for the people trampled on him at the gate and he died.”

There are many lesson from this history: (1). Suffice to say the Word of God will always come true. (2). Unbelievers will perish. (3). The royal officer was trampled to death, his position could not save him.

Don’t be fooled, there are no moral authorities and virtuous characters in high places. Noam Chomsky said, “Intellectuals are in a position to expose the lies of governments, to analyze actions according to their causes and motives and often hidden intentions.”

Dag Hammarskjold said something interesting, 

“Your position never gives you the right to command. It only imposes on you the duty of so living your life that others can receive your orders without being humiliated.” You see in many big American corporations where there are unqualified and unworthy executives or supervisors who intentionally humiliated their subordinates.

Thomas a Kempis had spiritual advice, “Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be. “ 

Mar 10:42, “Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their people in high position exercise authority over

them.”

Western powers fool the world with so-called democracy and human rights. In practice Western leaders and politicians domineer over the people, and those in high position exercise authority over the people. 

Christians are different. Whoever want to be prominent must be servants. There is no Christian nation on earth. Which country you know is really serving the people?

VI. PRIDE OF POSSESSION

Gen 13:5-13, “Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. And the land could not support both of them while living together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.

So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are relatives!

“Is the entire land not before you? Please separate from me; if you choose the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot raised his eyes and saw all the vicinity of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt going toward Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the vicinity of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. So they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the vicinity of the Jordan, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.

Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked sinners against the LORD.”

The Scriptures cited above are very interesting about the two men, Abraham and his nephew Lot. When Abraham went away as the Lord spoken to him; and Lot his nephew had almost nothing and went with Abram. God blessed Abraham so much that he was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. Now Lot also had flocks, herds, and tents. “And the land could not support both of them while living together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together.”

(1). If you follow and accompany a man blessed by God, you will be blessed too.

(2). The land could not support both of them. The world today could not support the world’s population while the poor and backward nations keep producing people who are not self-supportive.

(3). Too great possessions will separate people.

(4). Possession is often the cause of strife between people.

(5). There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock.

(6). Relative should not have strife.

(7). Magnificent Abraham let his nephew choose first.

(8). A man’s choice reveals his true character. Knowing the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked sinners, Lot moved his tents as far as Sodom. 

Gen 12:4-8, “So Abram went away as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the people which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; so they came to the land of Canaan.

Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanites were in the land at that time. And the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.”

People who have expertise in topography and geography should follow the Word of God and make a map representing the land that God had given to Abraham and his descendants. The illegally occupied land by Palestinians, Arabs, and Hamas must be vacated and they should depart from the Jewish land without further delay.

Luk 12:16-21, “And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’

“Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”

This rich man, God calls him a fool! Why? He has many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy himself! There are people in Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood who store up money and gold for many years to come so that they can relax, eat, drink, and enjoy themselves! Unawares and unprepared, this every night God demands his soul. The rich man stores up treasure for himself and his family and his descendants, but he is not rich in relation to God.

Democritus said, “Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.”

I agree with Oliver Goldsmith who said, “Our chief comforts often produce our greatest anxieties, and the increase in our possessions is but an inlet to new disquietudes.”

A worldly philosopher said, “The money rewards … which those agencies of publicity have made possible places temptations in the way of able men which are difficult to resist. To be pointed out, admired, mentioned constantly in the press, and offered easy ways of earning much money is highly agreeable; and when all this is open to a man, he finds it difficult to go on doing the work that he himself thinks best and is inclined to subordinate his judgment to the general opinion.”

As an illustration, an incumbent American president is often offered millions of dollars by publishers for whatever book he may want to write although he is no scholar and does not offer any worth of wisdom.

Just as a famed movie star or sports star or just a celebrity can make big money on commercials whether what he/she presents and represents is true or not. If the star or celebrity is beautiful or handsome so much the better. The commercials sell image or appearance, this tells you how phony it is. Thanks be to God there will be no advertising or commercial in the Kingdom of Heaven.

I agree with Arthur Schopenhauer who said, “Wealth is like sea-water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame.”

Among the most important teachings of Jesus Christ is to be on your guard against every form of greed. In particular in the last days people become lovers of money, lovers of themselves, and lovers of pleasure. One of Jesus’ great truth is not even when one is affluent does his life consists of his possessions. In America a man is valued by his possessions. In the Kingdom of God man is not valued by his possession. 

Luk 12:15, “But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.”

JESUS made it clear, life does not consist of one’s possessions even when one is affluent. Even when one is affluent, his life does not consist of his possessions.

VII.  PRIDE OF PROFESSION

Not a few take pride in professional competency. In a sense it is good to have professional competency. Imagine a surgeon who does not know what he is doing. Imagine a doctor who gives wrong diagnosis. Or imagine a pilot who does not know how to fly.

What is bad is the professionalism that looks down at other professions. A megachurch and TV preacher pushed an airplane attendant with the statement, “Do you know WHO I am?”

A professional who wants to be a “guru” in order to attract more followers and make more money. 

Scientists, theologians, philosophers have an air they are superior and indispensable. A Chinese physician PROUDLY declared he was a scientist.

Mat 23:2-12, “saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses.”

The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses, because that is the highest and most honored chair. My professor Dr. Koontz told me a new colleague Japanese was very arrogant. All professors like to be the chair of …

“Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say 

things and do not do them. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues,

and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people. But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in Heaven.

Roman Catholics are guilty of so many fathers, church fathers,  such as Augustine, John Chrysostom, Jerome, and Eusebius, etc. The worst of all the apostate church calls the pope “Holy Father.” It is blasphemous to call anybody “Holy Father”. Only God is the Holy Father.

“And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” In the Bible, in particular the Jews, Rabbi is such an honorable and venerable title. 

According to https://cn.bing.com/search?q=guru%20&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&ghc=1&pq=guru%20&sc=8-5&sk=&cvid=929619FD53CC4ED38F8AACAD64901160
”Guru is a Sanskrit term for a “mentor, guide, expert, or master” of certain knowledge or field. In Pan Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential figure to the disciple or

student, with the guru serving as a “counselor, who helps mold values, shares experiential knowledge as much as literal knowledge, an exemplar in life, an inspirational source and who helps in the spiritual evolution of a student”. Whatever language it is written in, Judith Simmer-Brown explains that a tantric spiritual text is often codified in an obscure twilight language so that it cannot be understood by anyone without the verbal explanation of a qualified teacher, the guru. A guru is also one’s spiritual guide, who helps one to discover the same potentialities that the guru has already realized.”

In the eyes of the world, guru maybe equivalent to Rabbi, more than a teacher.  Jesus Christ does not want any Christian to be called Rabbi, Father, or Leader.

Jhn 13:12-17, “Then, when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’; and you are correct, for so I am. So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you. Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” Humility is not just a topic, it must be practiced.

“The Indian movie “Oh My God” has explored the corrupt side of religious gurus who are involved in money swindling and cheating in the name of religion. More and more of India’s godmen are finding spirituality to be profitable bank account. The god business has become a sublime way to make ridiculous wealth. In the name of spiritualism, wide varieties of “spiritual” products are sold to commoners. These products are quite pricey and act as a great source of income for the “religious” figureheads. “Spiritual” magazines, books, incense sticks, oils, food supplements and medicines are the most popular merchandise available at almost all “spiritual hubs”. Most of the gurus run their business through trusts so that their names are not directly associated with the matter.”According to    https://bashny.net/t/en/164513“British journalist Mick Brown conducted an investigation of Sai Baba and found that those who were religious teacher allegedly “raised” or dead so far, either, and did not die at all. Brown accused the guru not only for fraud but also of sexual abuse, although evidence has not led the last journalist.”C. Wright Mills seemed to talk about those famed professionals, “The celebrities are The Names that need no further identification…Wherever the celebrities go, they are recognized, and moreover, recognized with some excitement and awe. Whatever they do has publicity value. More or less continuously, over a period of time, they are the material for the media of communication and entertainment. And, when that time ends — as it must — and the celebrity still lives — as he may — from time to time it may be asked, ‘Remember him?’ That is what celebrity means… 

“The professional celebrity, male and female, is the crowning result of the star system of a society that makes a fetish of competition. In America, this system is carried to the point where a man who can knock a small white ball into a series of holes in the ground with more efficiency and skill than anyone else thereby gains social access to the President of the United States. It is carried to the point where a chattering radio and television entertainer becomes the hunting chum of leading industrial executives, cabinet members, and the higher military. It does not seem to matter what the man is the very best at; so long as he has won out in competition over all others, he is celebrated. Then, a second feature of the star system begins to work: all the stars of any other sphere of endeavor or position are drawn toward the new star and he toward them. The success, the champion, accordingly, is one who mingles freely with other champions to populate the world of the celebrity.” 

America has become a strange land where brutal police, corrupt politicians, pimps and prostitutes take pride in their profession.

VIII.  PRIDE OF APPEARANCE

Eve was attracted by the appearance of forbidden fruit that she listened to 

the devil and disobeyed God. Appearance influences behavior.

Gen 29:17, “And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance.”

When a woman is beautiful in figure and appearance, what else does she need? Rachel was probably the most beautiful shepherdess. Where can you find a man who is not interested in a beautiful woman? Jacob loved Rachel and was willing to work seven years for her. Love is an incredible thing. Gen 29:20, “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her.” Love is able to commute seven years into a few days. Love is willing to wait.

Gen 39:6, “So he left Joseph in charge of everything that he owned; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.”

A young man needs more than handsome in form and appearance. Being handsome in form and appearance may open a career door, but it takes more to make one somebody.

1Sa 16:7, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

In America, if you live in a mansion, drive Mercedes- Benze, dressed in $5,000 suit, and wear expensive jewelry, everyone including strangers will salute and bow to you. For in America, the value of a person is measured by what he appears to be or what he has or what he possesses. But God is not like men.

Jhn 7:24, “Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Jesus knows the heart of man, and people judge according to the appearance. Although most people know, appearances are deceptive.

2Co 5:12, “We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.”

Worldly people take pride in appearance, Christians take pride in heart. It is normal to be proud of a sound ministry.

2Co 10:7, “You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so too are we.”

Appearances are outwardly.

Col 2:23, “These are matters which do not have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”

Self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body may have the appearance of wisdom, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

Jas 1:11, “For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.”

The rich man in his pursuits will fade away like the sun withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perished.

If Marilyn Monroe were alive and walking on the street, every man in the vicinity will stop what he is doing and starts looking. This is the power of appearance. 

Immanuel Kant said, “You only know me as you see me, not as I actually am.” To really know a person, you must not only see the outside, you need to know the inside of a man. The Chinese has a saying, “You know a man from his face, but not from his heart.”

Immanuel Kant observed, “Whereas the beautiful is limited, the sublime is limitless.” 

According to Aesop, “Appearances are often deceiving.” Remember, the fatal mistake of Samson was to fall in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. Samson was not deceived by Delilah, Samson deceived himself.

Martin Luther who stood the test of time and tribulation said conclusively, “Feelings come, and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving. My warrant is the Word of God, naught else is worth believing. ” 

Some one said, “The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar. ”

I agree with John Ruskin who said, “The common practice of keeping up appearances with society is a mere selfish struggle of the vain with the vain. Years ago I discovered: There is vanity in beauty but no beauty in vanity.

A spiritual man rooted in the Word of God, enlightened, made partakers of the Holy Spirit, can penetrate the veneer of the outward appearances of false prophets, false teachers and anti-christs. But multitudes of people are deceived and fooled.

IX. PRIDE OF LIFE

1Jo 2:16, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

Luk 12:19, “And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”

The rich and powerful in the world habitually express themselves as the rich man cited above. They have stored money and gold for many years to come. What have they to worry?

An ungodly philosopher surprisingly reached the following conclusion, “The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real state, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith.” I wonder what he had faith for since he did not have faith in God.

For some people, they have pride of life because what they know to control others, force and persuade others to do things they want them to do; or to show off and make people think they are better, richer, stronger, smarter, and more knowledgeable than others. 

A centurion said something remarkable, 

Mat 8:9, “For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

There are people who have boastful pride of life, they have authority and power to tell people come or go, do this or do that. Unfortunately, I encountered a Jewish jeweler who deliberately dropped things on the floor and told his employees to pick them up. He did not allow his regular employees to work 8 hours a day. At the sixth hour he would make a tour to pressure every employee to finish their work in seven hours a day, and thus he saved one hour without pay from each employee. 

The most dangerous fact today is this: Western leaders and politicians have the authority and capability to attack and occupy any nation they like, without cause or reason. The same group of people can incite a nuclear war to destroy the whole world. This is the prize they pride of life. Those who think they are secure because they have power, position, wealth and pleasure usually take pride in life.

God reveals a future of conflict and peril. The Word of God has revealed the future to mankind. Many uninformed people believe tomorrow will be better. They are led down the primrose path by false prophets and false teachers. 

2Ti 3:1-13, “But know this, that in the last days last days perilous times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters 

of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless 

in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their foolishness will be obvious to all, just as was that also of Jannes and Jambres. Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Western leaders and politicians are holding to a form of democracy, human rights, justice but they have denied their powers. The democracy they practice is 1% of population rules over the 99 percent and own most of the power and wealth. These men oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless claim to be Christians.

William Wilberforce made the right conclusion, “It is the distinguishing glory of Christianity not to rest satisfied with superficial appearances, but to rectify the motives, and purify the heart. ”

1Ti 1:5, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.”

Love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith is more precious to Christians than the boastful pride of life from the world.

X. THE CHRISTIAN WAY OF LIFE

Phl 2:16, “holding firmly the Word of Life, so that on the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.”

It is sound and good to hold firm the Word of Life so that on the day of Christ one can take pride because one did not run in vain nor labor in vain. This is the kind of pride which is without sin and without blame.

2Ch 32:26, “However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.”

The wrath of the Lord often comes to those who exhibit the pride of their hearts.

Job 33:17, “So that He may turn a person away from bad conduct, and keep a man from pride.”

Pride is a bad conduct which we must turn away.

Job 40:10, “Adorn yourself with pride and dignity,
And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.”

Believers adorn themselves with good pride and dignity, and clothe themselves with honor and majesty.

Psa 31:18, “Let the lying lips be speechless, which speak arrogantly 

against the righteous with pride and contempt.”

The sons of pride speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt. The wicked speak with swelling pride. 

Dan 4:37, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just; and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest king of the Babylonian Empire learned the experience that God is able to humble those who walk in pride.

With all my heart, I believe the Kingdom of Heaven is an object of pride forever, the Holy City, New Jerusalem is a great joy from generation to generation. The pride of Western powers and sole superpower will come down. The will fall by the sword when Jesus Christ will return to reign with the saints forever and ever. The world and everything in it will be destroyed. The kingdoms of the world will be brought to an end. The Kingdom of Heaven will begin when the Lord rules and reigns for eternity.

The Christian pride in Christ Jesus is abundant now, but will be glorious in power and honor in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming. 

CONCLUSION

Pro 8:13, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate.”

The fear of the Lord is to hat evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way and the perverted mouth. American and European leaders and politicians are guilty of pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth.

If American leaders and politicians truly love America, really concerned about the future of America and want to do what is right. This is the way they can do. Issue a proclamation of a national day of mourning for the past sins of America. Leaders and politician push aside personal pride, put on sackcloth and sit down on the floor of the Capitol. They are to call on God earnestly, confessing their sins and iniquities, and they are to turn, each one from his evil way, and from the violence which is in their hands. They are to apologize to the American citizens for leading America in the wrong path for so long. They are to apologize to the whole world for their crimes committed against many nations and peoples. This maybe their last chance.

They are to resolve to reform and renew America, building a righteous nation. This is a revolutionary change without a revolution.

Luk 18:9-14, “Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward Heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The two men represent the two groups of people. One who is self-righteous, the other who is repentant. The self-righteous can never find forgiveness of sins.

Olivier G. Wison said something interesting, “Happy is the soul that has something to look backward to with pride, and something to look forward to with hope.”

Gal 6:17, “From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” 

Rev 14:13, “And I heard a voice from Heaven, saying, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” 

John Ruskin said, “In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.”

Why let pride send you to Hell? Come down and humble as a child and kneel at the cross and ask the Lord Jesus to forgive your sins and accept Him as your God and Savior.

I agree with Blaise Pascal who said, “Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.”

Phl 1:26, “so that your pride in Christ Jesus may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again.”

Pride here in Greek is kauchēma which means rejoicing, the same word used in first part of 2Co 5:12. To have pride in Christ Jesus is to have abundant joy in Christ Jesus. 

Phl 2:16, “holding firmly the Word of life, so that on the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.”

There is One day as no other days, that is the Day of Christ. There is one pride as no other prides. The pride in Christ that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

The mayor of Washington, D.C. bowed to the illegal acts of street people who set up tents on public streets. She should be dismissed and deported. The National Guards are empowered to trash the tents, clear the streets and vanish street people. Los Angeles is disgraced city because the California Governor and Los Angeles mayor failed to solve the problems of street people who not only set up tents on public streets, but also urinate and defecate. All the more urgent for the national capital to move to Lincoln, Nebraska. In the face of national debt exceeding $37 trillion, the people can save money by abolishing the House, retain the unicameral legislation of Senate to move also to Lincoln Nebraska. All this can be accomplished legally by a national refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.

Descendants of American Flying Tiers whose forefathers had sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse government must treat them as eternal friends, and they are welcome to China anytime. Such blood bonds must be appreciated and maintained forever.

The world wrongly marks the anniversary of dropping atomic bomb on Hiroshima while neglecting the Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage to unworthy black spoke-persons. It is amazing no matter how beautifully white organizations and individuals hail human rights, civil rights, democracy, development, technology, benefits, justice, etc., what they are actually after is MONEY. This can be said equally true about blacks.

Global media highlight the number of Palestinians who have died, but fail to consider why Palestinian Authority and Palestinians do not want to evacuate from Jewish land and resettle in Arab land. Palestinians, men and women, young and old, are shameless beggars. They remain in Gaza to qualify for refugees so that they can get everything free from international community. The international community is ignorant of the fact that GAZA and related territories all belong to the Jews. Israel has every right to take back and take over Gaza and related territories. Palestinians must evacuate and relocate to Arab lands, make a living and establish its own Palestinian state without further delay.

French nincompoop Macron reognized Palestine as a state but failed to know that Palestine does not have territory and sovereignty. Leaders of UK, GERMANY, AUSTRLALIA would commit the same mistake by supporting terrorists. Hamas, Hezebolla, Houthis are wicked terrorists, they should be destroyed without mercy. Leaders of Palestinian Authority are guilty for the death and malnutrition of children because they lead Palestinians to the path of destruction. They could have led Palestinians to lands of Arabs to earn a living and build their own Palestinian state. Palestinians (young & old, man & woman) are most shameless beggars for food & water, they don’t want to go to an Arab land to earn a living and build their own Palestinian state. Africa amid famine has the most fat people in the world, they are also shameless beggars. Ukranians are shameless beggars for weapons, they do not have reason for existence. Harvard though the richest university in the world is a shameless beggar for US aid. Japan claims to practice democracy, its ruling party lost election miserably, yet its prime minister shamelessly wants to stay in power. The world must realize years of aid to Africa produced nothing, trillions of dollars went to black holes.  Africa is corrupt, unmotivated and useless. Black leaders and politicians take advantage of it; dress well, eat well, and live a luxurious life style. Black problems can be solved only by Blacks. Let Africa alone to survive on its own. Blacks create most of the problems in the world, given too much coverage and platform in world media, overappointed and given too many spokespersons and positions in UN. Any nation who shares destiny with Africa will be doomed. Nothing good comes out of Africa: primitive religion, superstition, spiritism, orgies, black magic, tribalism, voordoism.

If the Texas flooding is an act of God; Ukraine conflict, and conflicts of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis must be acts of the devil.

India must coexist with China, at the same time India and South Africa must be expelled from BRICS besause they do not remain true to BRICS’ founding mission, they do not belong, must be replaced by Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. US and EU must not rearm Ukraine, let Russia destroy it, and never to be rebuilt. The leader of Ukraine must also be executed.

Palestinian Authorities are guilty for leading Palestinians to a path of death, children died and suffer malnutrition.  Palestian Authorities do not lead Palestinians (who are Arabs) to a land of Arabs to work for a living and build the Palestinian state.

American forces have successfully wiped out three Iranian nuclear sites through B-2 bombers. The “everlasting consequence” is Iran cannot be a nuclear threat anymore. I stand with the overwhelming majority of Dutch people to demolish NATO — the war machine.

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Willie Wong

August 15, 2025

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