Ugly Pride: Wanting to Be Recognized by People - Tim Conway

Let's think of some expressions of pride.

The Scribes and the Pharisees.

A great example of pride of position.

The pride of recognition.

You remember what Jesus said of them?

"The Scribes and the Pharisees love

the place of honor at feasts

and the best seats in the synagogues."

So you come into the church,

and if you have people that are competing

for the highest seat,

what does that look like?

I mean, we're adults - many of us.

We wouldn't imagine,

you know how it is with little
children when they play -

what is that game they
play with the chairs?

Musical chairs.

You've seen when there's one chair left.

Or even when there's multiple chairs left,

but two people try to get in the same seat.

That's basically what Jesus
is saying about Pharisees.

They're fighting to get the highest seat.

You know, you can just see two of them

with all of their long garb on

and they're trying to push
each other off the seat

like children playing musical chairs.

We would never think of doing that.

And yet, there can be that
subtle reality in the heart

that we want position.

We want recognition.

We want place.

Oh, wanting to be recognized...

wanting to be honored.

You know what?

Every part is not working properly

when you've got that
attitude in the church.

Or how about the pride of
power and achievement?

You get this from Nebuchadnezzar.

But this can come into
the church just as well.

"Is this not Babylon?

Great Babylon -

which I have built by my mighty power

and for my great majesty."

And you know, that can
come into the church.

People do what they do because

they want to show what they can do.

"Look what I can do."

This achievement.

And you know, the reason that we know

that this easily infects the church

is there you've got how
many times, repeatedly,

the inner circle of disciples.

Luke 22:24 "A dispute
also arose among them

as to which of them was to
be regarded as the greatest."

Now you know, we would not be so bold

as to say it out loud.

I mean, those guys
were pretty brash, right?

Having an argument?

Especially some of the times
they were arguing that,

Jesus is over there telling them

how He's going to Jerusalem to die.

They're over there:

"I'm going to be greater than you."

And Jesus is saying, "I'm going to die."

Peter, who do you think you are?

You think just because you
walked on water out there

you're going to be greater?

See, we wouldn't think of that

because why? Because of pride.

That would be too embarrassing.

You see, that's almost like little children.

Little children can fight over the toy:

Give it to me! Give it to me!

You know, I saw some of
that happen over here.

And with children, they
can do that shamelessly.

But two adults, can you imagine

if two of the mothers were like:

Give that to me!

And it's like no, they wouldn't do that

because pride itself would
indicate that they not.

Because they don't want to be shamed.

Little children don't have that sense of shame.

But these guys were bold and brash.

No, we might not do that,

but you're thinking, in your heart,

you desire that.

You actually desire to be the greatest.

You don't desire to be the least.

You desire to be recognized.

You desire to be applauded.

(incomplete thought)

You desire the glory of man.