Two different writers gave us the same warning: God resists the proud. Peter says it: “…God resisteth the proud…” (1 Peter 5:5). And then in James 4:6 we read, “…Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud...”
Both Peter and James tell us that God sets Himself against the proud. After all, “resist” is a military term that describes forming a battle-line, like the ancient shield wall of Medieval times. Basically, it is saying that God comes to fight against the proud. That’s a serious thing. But who are these prideful people God opposes? First, it seems both writers were addressing church conflicts and how believers should treat each other. To be “proud” means “to show yourself above others, to want to be preeminent.” Most of us would be quick to say, “I don’t consider myself to be better than anyone else; so I am not prideful!” But it’s that word “preeminent” that stumps us. It’s not something we say everyday (or even ever). John speaks of a man called Diotrephes that loved to have the preeminence in the church (cf. 3 John 9). Diotrephes was a proud man and shows us how pride will manifest itself in a man. John is saying, “Diotrephes loves to be first.” In other words, Diotrephes loved to get his way. It seems it was his way or the hi-way. Diotrephes thought his opinion; his way of doing things; his way of seeing things, was better than anyone else’s. Diotrephes was a proud man. In fact, Diotrephes was so impressed with himself, that he would tear up a church to get his way. According to John, he was spreading malicious gossip against people that he would have nothing to do with. And he was sure to let everyone else in the church know that they better not have anything to do with them either. He would even split the church and run members off if they didn’t agree with him or do what he wanted them to do. Diotrephes loved to be first. I have known a few Diotrephes in my 43 years of ministry. But what Diotrephes (and the Diotrephes among us) don’t stop to think about is that they have made an enemy of God. They may recruit a few like-minded church folk to their team, but God stands against them. I have often wondered about that. What does it mean to have God stand against you? I don’t want to find out. More importantly, how can I make sure to never become a Diotrephes? Both James and Peter provide the antidote: humble yourself – be clothed with humility. In other words, love not being first. Put God first in everything.
