Here you can see Grays Harbor Lighthouse. This is the same lighthouse which was featured in the last blog post.
When it was first built, Grays Harbor Lighthouse was only 400 feet from the shoreline. However, over time, sand and silt have filled in the coastline to the point that Grays Harbor Lighthouse is now 1.5 miles away from the shoreline.
This right here is what pride does in our life. Pride separates. Pride creates distance.
Bit by bit … little by little. Just like the sand and silt accumulated bit by bit … little by little.
So also, pride separates and creates distance between us and others bit by bit … little by little. It’s not obvious. It’s subtle.
Here is the photo which was featured in the last blog post. As you can see, Grays Harbor Lighthouse is now surrounded by tall trees.
Trees have filled in the 1.5 miles of space between the lighthouse and the coast. You can barely see the lighthouse at all.
The lighthouse has been “choked out” (so to speak). It has been “swallowed up.” The lighthouse has become ineffective.
This is what pride does in our life. Pride creates such distance … that our life, in essence, becomes ineffective. Pride “chokes out” and “swallows up” love in our life.
Today’s blog topic is: Love is not rude. I intentionally chose to use the same lighthouse, with a close-up view … because rudeness in our life is simply an aspect of our “tower of pride.”
In this photo, the tall lighthouse tower appears imposing. There are no windows in the tower. But rather windows are at the very top to look down on everything below.
So also, in the same way, when we build a “tower of pride” in our life, our “tower of pride” will likewise be imposing and uninviting. There will be no “windows to our soul” … where we are honest and vulnerable with others. Can’t risk being honest or vulnerable with others because that might jeopardize our status of being “better than.”
The point of our “tower of pride” is so that we can climb the tower, “be at the top,” and look down on everyone around us.
The point of our “tower of pride” is not to stand tall to shine the “light” of Jesus to those out at sea who might need help or rescuing. No. The point of our “tower of pride” is so that we can look down on everyone in rudeness.
If the light shines from the tower, it will ultimately cause inconvenience. Because the light might reveal someone out at sea who needs help. This is highly inconvenient. It is inconvenient to “come down out of the tower.” It is inconvenient to “cross the distance.” It is inconvenient to put forth effort to help others. It is inconvenient to rescue someone in need.
Love is not proud. Love recognizes that although the tower is high, it was never meant to “look down” in rudeness on others.
Love recognizes that the point of the tower is to shine the “light” of Jesus out to those who might need help. Rather than simply having a tower of dominance over the landscape. Love is not rude.
Love sees what rudeness can’t see. Rudeness looks down. Love looks out. Love sees those out there who are hurting. Love sees those out there who need encouragement. Love keeps a vigilant watch … always looking out … not down. Love is not rude.
Love is willing to put forth some effort. Rudeness will not be bothered by inconvenience. Love descends the stairs. Love crosses the distance. Love puts forth the effort to care about others. All the while rudeness remains high in the tower … always “looking down.” Love is not rude.
* Rudeness is the outworking of pride in our life.
* Rudeness is the “fruit” of pride in our life.
* A life which is consumed by pride will be characterized by rudeness.
“He who builds a high [tower of pride] invites destruction.” – Proverbs 17:19
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18
“Love is not proud, love is not rude.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Yes, be a tower. Be a strong tower. Be a tower of love!
“Be steadfast! Unmovable! Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58
