The Idolatry of Self-Pity

Self-pity and unforgiveness are two things that require self exaltation.  Self-pity exalts feelings over the Word of God.  Unforgiveness exalts lust for revenge over the Word of God.  These things exalt themselves against the knowledge of God; (Ref. 2Corinthians 10:5).  I believe we could equivalently say, “They exalt themselves against the authority of God.”

I have been teaching a series on the authority of the believer.  So the word authority is fresh on my mind.  “God” is an authority word.  “Blessed” is an authority word.  It means empowered (or authorized) to prosper.  Authorization doesn’t mean automatic manifestation.  You must exercise your authority from a place of righteousness.  “Exalt” is an authority word.  “Law” is an authority word.  God’s word is God’s law; God’s authority.  There is no authority on any level or any realm or kingdom, without words.  Words authorize.

The negative feelings of self-pity and unforgiveness give more authority to feelings than to the Word of God.  If we indulge in these, we make ourselves god in our own lives.  That is idolatry.

I don’t want to make this a long article.  I’m interested in what you have to say about these thoughts.  I Googled the word “blog”.  It is a truncation of the phrase “web log”.  In the spirit of that, as I realized in the middle of the night that I was having some thoughts new to me, I decided to blog them so I could see what you think.

 

Hit me back.

 

Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits (Ps. 68:19)"


"Are your days loaded with benefits? Let’s take another glance at the benefits of staying in God’s presence.


When you look back over your life, does your soul cry out "Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!　Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:" (Ps. 103:1-2)?


David, a man under the Old Covenant, penned this awe-inspiring Psalm. He continued on to write, "[He] forgives all your iniquities, [He] heals all your diseases, [He] redeems your life from destruction, [He] crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, [He] satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Ps. 103:3-5).


David’s words speak of profound restoration and reward. You are restored to righteousness (or right standing before Him). You are restored to health. Your life is made rich and abundant. You’re rewarded with intensely intimate kindness and mercy. You’re rewarded with quieted yearnings and satisfied longings. And, you’re rewarded with a literal renewal of your youth. The years that once seemed lost to you are lost no more. He [Jesus] makes all things new (Rev. 21:5).

What’s most intriguing about Psalm 103 is that a man under the Law wrote it. David lived during the time of annual sin sacrifices. The Israelites had to continually offer the blood of bulls and goats, year by year, to temporarily atone for their sins. Of course, the blood of bulls and goats could never make the people perfect [totally purified] only more sin conscious (Heb. 10:1-4).

Fortunately for us, Jesus, through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself on our behalf as the perfect and complete fulfillment to the demands of the Law. If, under the Old Testament, the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sanctified for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the perfectly righteous blood of Christ cleanse your conscience (Heb. 9:13-15)?

Today, believer, can you say, "My conscience is clean"? I certainly hope so, because a great price was paid for you to know life justified and free from condemnation (Acts 13:38-39). Jesus came to give you life and life more abundantly (Jn. 10:10).

What you have today, through Jesus, is far superior to what David had. Granted, David was exceptional for his time. He was, after all, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). But, he was not perfectly purified as you are through the blood of Jesus. And, his body was not the temple of the Holy Spirit as yours is today (1 Cor. 6:19).

You’ve been purified so that you can house the Spirit of the Living God and through His Spirit enjoy unhindered fellowship with God Himself. His Spirit brings restoration and reward. If you’re longing for the restoration of a relationship or the healing of your body, long no more. If you desire the reward of loving kindness and tender mercies, desire no more. Draw from the Spirit of the Living God that lives in you. How? Simple, in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6). Commune with Him.

Jesus paid a price far beyond what we can properly comprehend for the sole purpose of bringing you into communion with the Father. You, believer, are very special: a pearl of great price (Mt. 13:46), the apple of His eye (Zach. 2:8).


If you don’t see God’s restoration and reward coming to pass in your life, it may simply be because you haven’t fully trusted Him. It takes trust to believe for the restoration of a marriage. It takes trust to believe for the reward of renewed youth. Trust is built on relationship, on time spent in one another’s company. As you spend time in His presence, meditating on His Word and communing with Him Spirit to spirit, your trust in Him grows and all His seemingly too-good-to-be-true promises and benefits become very believable. Today, believer, allow the God of hope to fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13).

This article was written by Sara Wasser,
Christian Teacher & member of Love In Action Church