It Starts Small

Guard your heart above all else,
for it is the source of life.

Proverbs 4:23

Hubris: The tumor of the heart

There is a virus called hubris that will attach a human’s heart. Hubris is defined as excessive pride that brings down a hero or an outrageous arrogance or entitlement that inflicts suffering upon the innocent.

Talented people are susceptible to this virus. They are very confident and competent people. They are the type of people that appear to turn everything they touch into gold and people worship them. They believe they are different and above others and should be worshiped. When their world starts to crumble, they are clueless as to why.

The deadliest heart condition of those who fall is the one who thinks: “I thought it would not happen to me….”

Exceptionalism.

In our reading today, Paul faces the most dangerous challenge. It is not about persecution, instead, he is being exposed to the hubris virus in a big way.

By any measure we look at, Paul’s work was very successful. No matter where Paul went, people would gather by great numbers to hear him preach. The presence of God was with him and he preformed many miracles. People thought he was a god and started to worship him. The priest of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to offer sacrifices to him.

The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.

Acts 13:14

This was Paul’s golden moment the enemy was drooling and waiting for! This was Paul’s “golden buzzer” moment to make a name for himself.

How did Paul handle it?

¹⁴ The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting, ¹⁵ “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

Acts 14:15-16

Paul knew who he was and Paul knew who he was not! Paul’s competency and achievements did not result in hubris. What we see most importantly about Paul’s journey is that the more successful he became, the more humility we see. We also see more godliness. There was no kingdom of Paul. There was only the Kingdom of God. His heart was in the right place.

Paul pushed away and defended himself against this hubris virus. God was ready to reveal an even bigger assignment to him!

Thoughts to Ponder:

• Is there any hint of hubris in your heart that God is exposing today?
• How can you address this?

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