The theme of this weekend's retreat was the necessity of humility. God continued to remind me of the ease in which I slip into pride. I know that personal pride is easy to fall into - exalting oneself at the expense of one's friends or co-workers is something I cringe at. What I forget is how easy it is to slip into group (ethnocentric) pride.
During the retreat last weekend when people would come and say something nice about the retreat or thank me I was quick to exult the team. Everyone had worked hard to bring this event about; yet, God showed me that in exulting the team I was not fully acknowledging the fact that it was truly Him at work. Yes, the GLC team worked hard and did a great job, but ultimately it was about God working, moving and meeting us at the retreat and to Him alone belongs the glory.
I have been faced with this group pride issue before and it causes me to have so much more empathy with the Israelites and the ease with which they slipped into an ethnocentric attitude and failed to look at and serve those around them. It feels so good to take your eyes off yourself, yet still have people that you are relying on as opposed to God.
But God calls us to honor and glorify Him alone and to recognize that in and through the people around us, He truly is working.
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