PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL

In the mid to late 80s, many considered Mike Tyson to be the baddest boxer on the planet.  He burst on the scene as a teenager and caught the eye of sports fans around the world by knocking out most of his opponents in the first few rounds.  In 1986, Tyson became a household name when he became the youngest heavy weight champion in the history of boxing at the age of 20. 

By 1989, Tyson reigned supreme in the boxing world.  At that time, he held an impressive, professional record of 37-0.  After 10 title defenses, many felt as if Tyson was unbeatable. 

World famous boxing analyst Larry Merchant once said of Tyson, “Nobody believes that anybody can beat Tyson,” and at the time it was true.  Most everyone believed him to be unbeatable, especially Tyson.  Shortly after becoming champion, he said in an interview, “No one will ever take my title away from me,” and for several years he was right. 

That all changed, however, on February 10, 1990.  On that day, a man by the name of James “Buster” Douglas stepped into the ring with Tyson and shocked the world.  In this fight, he was a 42-1 underdog, though his own trainer said it was more like 1,000,0000-1.  At that time, no one thought Douglas had a chance to win except for Douglas.  But on that day, everyone with the exception of Douglas was wrong.  He fought the perfect fight and defeated the champion knocking Him out in the 10^th round. 

Many still consider that fight to be the biggest upset in boxing history.  There are some who also believe it to be one of the top 25 biggest upsets in the history of sports.  Now, that fight has been reviewed thousands of times since, and there have been many reasons given for Tysons defeat, but the most common explanation people come back to time and time again is that on that night, Tyson made a common mistake often made by champions:  He underestimated His opponent.  He came in overconfident and thought he had in the bag and that overconfidence led to his defeat. 

This incredible upset reminds us of the timeless truth we see time and time again in sports and in life:  “Pride goes before a fall.”  Now many in our world today are familiar with that saying and have even used it on occasion, but few realize that this comes straight from the Word of God.  Solomon says in Proverbs 16:18,

¹⁸   Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

In the passage we looked at yesterday from 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Paul warns the Christians at Corinth about the dangers of overconfidence, and his main point in this passage is found in v. 12.  Paul says,

“¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

Many of the Corinthians had gotten to the place in their spiritual life where they were so confident in their spiritual strength and maturity, that they were pushing their liberties to its limits.  Seeing the dangers of this mentality, Paul warns them of the risks of “living on the edge” spiritually. 

To listen to this sermon click HERE and scroll down to “PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL.”

"Quote" of the Week

"It was pride that changed angels into devils."  St. Augustine

ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.  To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.  To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.  To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.  1 Corinthians 9:19-22

Growing up, do you remember wanting a certain something—it could be anything from a pair of shoes to a car, and your parents told you that you could have it, but you would have to make sacrifices in order to get it?  Do you remember the sacrifices you made for that item?  Now let ask you this, “Where is that item today?  Where are those shoes, that toy, those clothes or even that car today?” 

Truth is we sacrifice so much for temporal things, for things that don’t even matter at this moment much less for eternity, yet we sacrifice very little for the things of God.  In 1 Corinthians 9, we are given a wonderful example of what our priorities in life should be.  In the Scriptures, we learn that the Apostle Paul made huge sacrifices in his life and ministry with the major difference being the fact that he slaved for things that matter for eternity because he sacrificed for others and invested in people. 

Though he admits at the beginning of chapter 9, he is free in Christ he tells us here in the later half of this chapter that he out of love for the lost limits the freedom he has and makes himself a slave to everyone in order to win as many as possible for Christ.  He says, “Though I am free, I set that liberty aside to win people.”

In this chapter, Paul explains that if exercising your freedom becomes a roadblock for people coming to Christ, you should waive that right so that God’s Gospel can advance.  Believers, this message from Paul to this messy church in Corinth is one that is necessary for us to hear today because limiting liberty for others is not an easy thing for us to do. 

Let’s be honest, it’s hard enough to resist sin, much less waive the rights that we have and refrain from something that is lawful for us to do.  Yet God tells us in His Word that this is a sacrifice we should be willing to make.  The Bible tells us that before we exercise freedom, we need to be considerate of others and allow love to limit our liberty for the sake of the Gospel.

"Quote" of the Week

"(Paul) would not change the least truth in the least way in order to satisfy anyone. But he would condescend in any way for anyone if that would in any way help bring him to Christ. He would never set aside a truth of the gospel, but he would gladly restrict his liberty in the gospel."  –John MacArthur

BE WILLING TO LIMIT YOUR LIBERTY

“You get what you pay for.”  Unfortunately, this is one of those lessons that many of us have learned the hard way.  I know I have.  There have been times in my life when I have tried to cut corners on a purchase, and it has backfired on me.  When this happens, I am reminded of this truth.  But is this statement always true? 

I think we would all agree that this is true on occasion, but there are also exceptions to this.  At times, “you get more than you pay for.”  For example, at times a sports team will sign an athlete for a small amount of money who turns out to be a superstar or a movie made on a shoestring budget soars at the box office. 

There are also times when “you don’t get what you pay for.”  Using the same illustrations—on occasion a professional sport team will sign an athlete for an astronomical amount of money who will have a career ending injury and that movie that took millions upon millions of dollars to make, will tank at the box office.  So there are exceptions to the statement, “You get what you pay for.”

In the first part of 1 Corinthians 9, we learn that the Christians at Corinth were also an exception to this rule as well in that they got something they did not pay a dime for—namely the Apostle Paul.  In this chapter, we learn that they received guidance and direction and biblical instruction from Him for free.  Paul gave everything to them and did not receive anything in return.  Why?  Why would he do that?  Well, he tells us why at the end of v. 12 and in vv. 15-18.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul spends the majority of the first half of the chapter (vv. 1-14) establishing the right that he has to be compensated for his work in ministry and then four verses (vv. 15-18) explaining how and why he waived that right.  At the end of v. 12, Paul says,

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

After establishing the right he has to be compensated for his work in ministry, Paul says, “We have not made use of this right.”  Why?  He tells us—“(to not) put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.”  Paul was concerned that if he started asking for money, outsiders would begin to question his motives in ministry, which might hinder the spread of the Gospel. 

He also waived his right to compensation because it thrilled him to “present the gospel free of charge.”  He says, “Though, I have the right to support—I will never use it—I have refused it, so that you are not burdened or hindered by anything; so that you can receive the wonderful message of the Gospel free of charge.”

"Quote" of the Week

"What is Paul’s reward for wanting to preach the gospel? Satisfaction that he can offer it free of charge. In a society where personal advantage, even with civic benefactions, was always accepted as the motivating factor, Paul’s ‘advantage’ was seeing the unique gospel of the free grace of God being offered without cost to its hearers. His action demonstrated the very character of his message."  D.A. Carson 

WHAT IS LAWFUL MAY NOT BE WHAT IS BEST

For those of you who have been driving for some time, surely you know by now that there are some basic, understood “rules of the road” that are applicable most everywhere unless there is a sign that indicates otherwise.  One particular “rule of the road” is that you are free to turn right on red. 

However, just because you have the freedom to turn, does not mean you should turn in any and every situation?  What if there is a big diesel truck barreling through the intersection?  Do you turn?   No.  Though you do have the freedom to turn on red, you have to yield to oncoming traffic.

There’s a great biblical principle here, and it’s this, “Just because something is lawful, does not make it right in any and every circumstance.”  As Christians, we have a lot of freedoms.  There are certain activities that the Bible either remains silent on or at times permits.  That being the case, Scripture is also clear that just because we have certain freedoms does not mean we should exercise them whenever and wherever we feel like it.  The reason why is because of what that might mean for our other brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Now some will hear that and say, “Who cares?  That’s their problem.  I’m free to do it, therefore, I’m going to do it whenever and wherever I feel like it.”  Many of us respond like Abel’s brother Cain in Genesis 4 when he said, “Am I my brothers keeper?”  Many of us think in this way.  We think, “Why do I have to concern myself with other peoples hangups?  I know what Scripture teaches—I know my freedoms.   So he or she is going to have to get over it.”

The problem with that logic is this; Scripture tells us, “You are your brothers and sisters keepers.”  Think about the responsibilities that God has left for us, His people.  We have been called to seek out followers of Him and when the lost are found we are called to disciple them.  As believers we are also called to pray for one another, edify one another, sharpen one another and train and teach one another. 

In 1 Corinthians chapter 8, Paul tells his readers that, at times, we are also supposed to refrain from certain activities out of love for one another.  He tells us that there are times when we should allow love to limit our liberties.  If you want to hear more on 1 Corinthians 8 click HERE and listen to the sermon entitled, “WHAT IS LAWFUL MAY NOT BE WHAT IS BEST.”

"Quote" of the Week

"But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.  For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?  And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.  Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ."  1 Corinthians 8:9-12