Lesson 68. Pride in Strength

From childhood, we have heard the proverb, “If you have strength, you don’t need brains.” And the reality of life has shown that this is often so. Strong people are not always just, they are not always wise, and they are not always distinguished by politeness and tact.

Strength is given to us by God to protect the weak and infirm and to support those who are exhausted and weary. Strength is also needed so that we may labor in this world, carrying out the various activities expected of us.

In physics, force is defined as a mechanical action exerted upon something.

There are various kinds of strength inherent in a person: physical strength, strength of spirit, willpower, strength of thought, strength of faith, strength of mind, and strength of life. In all these manifestations, we either surpass someone or prove weaker than others.

Social power is the power of weapons. In this sense, we speak of armed and political forces and the power of authority.

God also has power, the supreme power over all His creation in every sphere of influence. Psalm 24:8, 10: “Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle... Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.”

Strength is given to everyone as a blessing from God for fulfilling particular purposes and tasks and for sustaining the life of human society. But sin introduced its own changes into the concept of strength and established laws of its own, according to which the strong receive a certain authority over the weak and begin to dominate them, dictating their own terms and ideas to satisfy their ambitions. This sometimes occurs on a subconscious level. We do not understand why it is so, but we submit to this state of affairs as though it were inevitable.

But what matters more now is to determine whether I have this attitude in my heart and whether I am sinning against God in my actions or thoughts. A strong person is always right in his own eyes, and if anyone opposes this order, he prefers to demonstrate his strength without further explanation.

I remember an occasion when I tried to punish my daughter for something, and she told me that I was acting that way not because I was right, but because she was weaker than I was. I began to think, and I felt ashamed.

How many broken bodies and shattered lives surround us! How much injustice and violence!

Any of us can easily recall occasions in life when strong people subjected us to physical or spiritual violence, causing pain and inflicting wounds. We have all gone through such experiences and may still be living with them. But if I begin recalling how much violence I have inflicted or continue to inflict upon others because I am stronger than they are, pride will probably prevent me from seeing all my sins in this matter clearly, because I was right. Besides, I am better than everyone else.

The use of force and domination over those who are physically or spiritually weaker than I am for the sake of satisfying my ambitions is one form of pride. It is deeply rooted in my mind and controls my thoughts and actions.

I can very quickly discern my neighbor’s spiritual and physical superiority or weakness and act toward him accordingly.

Love is the most powerful force in the entire universe, making the person who possesses it the mightiest being in love. It has a heavenly nature and proceeds from the Father. Therefore, it can be difficult to recognize with our human eyes, but it can be discerned and heard with the heart.

When the One through Whom our world was created came into it, we did not recognize Him. But the power of love accompanied Christ throughout His earthly life. When sinful people received power over His body, they treated Him cruelly and crucified Christ upon the cross. Jesus had the power to prevent this. He could have spoken only one word, and all His offenders would have perished. He could also have killed Satan and his demons, but He did not do so, allowing evil to show everyone its true essence and nature. The Lord of hosts permitted violence to be inflicted upon Him, showing everyone how the world treats infinite love and what awaits those who decide to love.

The example of Calvary is precisely what, in many cases, gives a person strength to endure a trial when he sees the rulers of this world acting violently toward him and is unable to stop them. Though one possesses the most powerful force of love in the universe and has the mightiest God as one’s Father, at times one must endure humiliation, violence, and insults from those who have another spirit and consider themselves stronger, while they themselves are slaves of sin. And God permits this in order to humble me and teach me not to act in the same way toward those who are weaker than I am.

Children are the weakest people, for they have not been taught how to defend themselves. How much unjust violence they suffer in childhood, and then carry that heavy wound in their hearts throughout life and take it with them to the grave.

But love has the power to forgive everything and begin a new life. It cleanses the heart from resentment and pain, filling it with light and joy. Love brings life-giving streams of happiness in Jesus into my life and gives me the ability to defend myself against attack. Love knows how to fight and never loses. Have you ever fought the ocean? Did it surrender its position in that battle? The very idea sounds foolish. It is just as foolish to fight against love. But unlike the ocean, love is intelligent and respects human freedom.

The power of goodness, whatever form it takes, proceeds from God and is given to me for good works. It is intended to make life easier for those who are weaker than I am, who need help, or who lack the strength to change something. And I joyfully help and serve these people.

There is a concept of the stronger and weaker halves of humanity, and we understand whom it refers to. We are drawn to one another so that we may receive what we lack. A strong man senses his significance when a weaker woman is beside him. Weak does not mean helpless. And if he is a well-balanced person, he uses his strength to make up for his wife’s weakness, serving her with love and joy and finding in her emotional nature a powerful source of inspiration and happiness.

What should I do if I see within myself a spirit of domination and violence toward those who are weaker than I am? Perhaps it is not very obvious and manifests itself only in words, but an evil word can kill and maim souls. I cannot rid myself of this on my own. I was born with this vice, and it lives in my blood. I need Someone strong enough to save me. And His name is Jesus. I urgently need a blood transfusion so that His blood may wash away my sins and give my body new life. Without Him, I can do nothing and know nothing.

God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. It is better to be friends with God and have His blessings than to be His adversary and live under a curse. Forgiveness has tremendous power to heal wounds and restore souls. When I forgive those who have offended me, I am freed from the burden of problems. When I ask forgiveness, God frees me from pride and gives me strength not to sin in the future.

What awaits me in this trial of strength? The side I choose depends entirely upon me.

The Bible counsels me to be a servant if I desire to be above everyone. This is difficult, but Jesus was precisely such a Man. He gave me a very good example, and if I follow His way, I will not go wrong.

Love is strong in serving others. It does not exalt itself and does not boast.

1. Please read 1 Samuel 17:1–8, 45–47; 2 Chronicles 32:9–14, 17, 21; Zechariah 4:6; Amos 6:13–14; Psalm 62:11; Isaiah 30:3; Isaiah 31:1; and Jeremiah 17:5–7 in the light of the subject we are studying.

2. What was revealed to you in this lesson?

3. Is it wrong to be a strong person?

4. What destroyed the strong people in the assigned passages?

5. Why is it sometimes difficult for strong people to accept the Gospel?

6. How can we learn to trust not in our own strength, but in the Lord?

7. What should I do if I see pride in my strength within myself? See Romans 15:1.

8. How should we understand 2 Corinthians 12:10: “for when I am weak, then am I strong”?