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Pride Stinks
By Robin Jones
Monday, July 18, 2016
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility. Proverbs 18:12 NKJV
Mary entered the room full of men, uncaring what they thought of her. They could call her whatever they wanted “impertinent”, “prostitute”. No pride within her or put upon her by others would keep her from her Jesus. Jesus picked her up out of the cesspool of her life. They could not shame her in his presence.
She reached the place where Jesus reclined. Taking what cost her a year’s worth of wages, she broke the jar of nard, poured it over Jesus’ head, and fell to her knees before her Savior. In tears, Mary mopped the perfume over His feet with her glory… her hair.
Although the men scoffed at her foolishness and rebuked her for the waste, Jesus stopped them.
“Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could.
She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”Mark 14:6-9 NIV
Did you see the process of pride act itself out in this one scene?
HaughtinessàDestructionàHumilityàHonor.
In other words, pride stinks, but humility is fragrant. Jesus helped Mary get over her selfishness and sinfulness so that she could offer pure, holy love. In doing so, He raised her from destruction to honor. The fragrance of her humble offering would be remembered always.
C.H. Spurgeon once said,
… until the Lord brings about a spiritual bankruptcy, pride will keep him from going to God.
Mary had nothing left to keep her from Him. How about you?
Pride stinks, but humility is fragrant.
If our pride is the hard exterior of the alabaster box, then our humility and love for Jesus is the precious perfume inside of it.
Are you willing to let Jesus break your hard exterior so that His love can flow out? What is that alabaster box in your life?
Be still. Listen to what God is saying. Journal a prayer surrendering it to Him.
Lord,
Show us our hardness and pride so that we might surrender it. May we let you rescue us from us. Love take us over and expand our world from population me to all of humanity. In Jesus Name, Amen
© 2013 by Robin Jones. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Monday, 18 July 2016.
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