HUBRIS, TO BE OR NOT

“Seest thou how God with his lightning smites always the bigger animals, and will not suffer them to wax insolent, while those of a lesser bulk chafe him not? How likewise his bolts fall ever on the highest houses and the tallest trees? So plainly does He love to bring down everything that exalts itself? Thus oft times a mighty host is discomfited by a few men, when God in his jealousy sends fear or storm from heaven, and they perish in a way unworthy of them. For God allows no one to have high thoughts but Him self”
(Quote from Herodotus)

Hubris Definition - - Means extreme haughtiness or arrogance. Hubris often indicates being out of touch with reality and overestimating one's own competence or capabilities, especially for people in positions of power.

The word hubris is being used more often describing people in power such as politicians like Charles Rangel of New York.

Hubris is an unwarranted attitude that has no place within the Christian community, but does it exist? Are there those in the church who qualify as being “stuck up?”

Paul seemed to think it to be so, and wrote in Romans 12:3 “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

Honest evaluation doesn’t diminish you in any way; it only changes an exaggeration of a dishonest opinion of yourself.

1 Corinthians 4:7 “What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?”

Unquestionably there are those who have been given talent superior to others and have maximized it, and have a right to the success it brings to them but it stops there. You must not invoke the “Zero sum law,” which causes someone to be diminished to the extent of another’s gain.

Like winning at poker; what you win causes the other to lose the same amount or when you get uppity then it demeans another to the extent of your uppity-ness.

If you look to GOD for reward and pleasure, his approval will be sufficient for your self esteem, and you will not need to diminish others.

No matter how you homogenize it, egotism and Christianity doesn’t mix and pride always goes before the fall.