Conceit Rebuked

The verse is written in language of the most ancient kind, which is but little understood. Moreover, it is extremely pithy and sententious, and hence it is obscure. The sense given in our version is, however, that which sums up the other translations, and we prefer to adhere to it.

I. DO MEN REALLY THINK THAT THINGS SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO THEIR MIND?

1. Concerning God. Their ideas of him are according to what they think he should be; but could he be God at all if he were such as the human mind would have him to be?

2. Concerning providence on a large scale, would men re-write history? Do they imagine that their arrangements would be an improvement upon infinite wisdom? In their own case they would arrange all matters selfishly. Should it be so?

3. Concerning the Gospel, its doctrines, its precepts, its results, should men have their own way? Should the atonement be left out, or the statement of it be modified to suit them?

4. Concerning the Church. Should they be head and lord?

   • Should their liberal ideas erase inspiration?
   • Should Baptism and the Lord’s Supper be distorted to gratify them? Should gaudy ceremonies drive the Lord’s homely ordinances out of doors? Should priestcraft crush out spiritual life? Should taste override divine commands?
   • Should the Ministry exist only for their special consolation, and be molded at their bidding?

II. WHAT LEADS THEM TO THINK SO?

1. Self-importance, and selfishness.

2. Self-conceit, and pride.

3. A murmuring spirit which must needs grumble at everything.

4. Want of faith in Christ leading to a doubt of the power of his gospel.

5. Want of love to God, souring the mind and leading it to kick at a thing simply because the Lord prescribes it.

III. WHAT A MERCY THAT THINGS ARE NOT ACCORDING TO THEIR MIND!

1. God’s glory would be obscured.

2. Many would suffer to enable one man to play the Dictator.

3. We should, any one of us, have an awful responsibility resting upon us if our own mind had the regulation of affairs.

4. Our temptations would be increased. We should be proud if we succeeded, and despairing if we met with failure.

5. Our desires would become more greedy.

6. Our sins would be unconnected; for we should never allow a rod or a rebuke to come at us.

7. There would be universal strife; for every man would want to rule and command (James 4:5). If it ought to be according to your mind, why not according to mine?

IV. LET US CHECK THE SPIRIT WHICH SUGGESTS SUCH CONCEIT.

1. It is impracticable; for things can never be as so many different minds would have them.

2. It is unreasonable; for things ought not so to be.

3. It is unchristian; for even Christ Jesus pleased not himself, but cried, “Not as I will”: Matthew 26:39.

4. It is atheistic; for it dethrones God to set up puny man.

   • Pray God to bring your mind to his will.
   • Cultivate admiration for the arrangements of the Divine mind.
   • Above all, accept the gospel as it is, and accept it now.

Helps

Should it be according to your mind? Many appear to think so. If we may judge by their conduct, they think that the Most High should have consulted their ease, their fancy, and their aggrandizement The gospel is not just what they would like it to be. Providence does not work as they desire. Few things are exactly as they should be.

Complaining mortal! Should it be according to your mind? Is not your mind carnal? Is it not selfish? Is it not prejudiced? If it were according to your mind, would not God’s glory be obscured? Would not others suffer? Would not your lusts be fed? Would not your temptations be stronger? Would not your danger be greater?

Is not your God wiser, kinder, and holier than you are? Does he not love justice? Are not his mercies over all his works? True, you may be afflicted, you may be poor, you may be sickly; what then? You are wishing for health, for a competency, for freedom from trials; but, “should it be according to your mind?”

Beloved, let us guard against such a spirit. It is common, but it is unreasonable, it is criminal, it is dangerous. The thing is impracticable. Your God must govern, he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. His ways are just, his plans are wise, his designs are merciful, and when the work is complete, every part will reflect his glory.—James Smith.

We are all very apt to believe in Providence when we get our own way; but when things go awry, we think, if there is a God, He is in Heaven and not upon the earth. The cricket, in the spring, builds his house in the meadow, and chirps for joy because all is going so well with him. But when he hears the sound of the plough a few furrows off, and the thunder of the oxen’s tread, then his sky begins to darken, and his young heart fails him. By-and-by the plough comes craunching along, turns his dwelling bottom-side up, and as he goes rolling over and over, without a house and without a home, “Oh,” he says, “the foundations of the world are breaking up, and everything is hastening to destruction.” But the gardener, as he walks behind the plough, does he think the foundations of the world are breaking up? No. He is thinking only of the harvest that is to follow in the wake of the plough; and the cricket, if it will but wait, will see the husbandman’s purpose. My hearers, we are all like crickets. When we get our own way, we are happy and contented. When we are subjected to disappointment, we become the victims of despair.—Dr. A. B. Jack, in “The Preacher and Homiletic Monthly.”

Man would have God go according to his mind in chastening and afflicting him. He would have God correct him only in such a kind, in such a manner and measure as he would choose. He says in his heart, If God would correct me in this or that, I could bear it; but I do not like to be corrected in the present way. One says, If God would smite me in my estate I could bear it, but not in my body; another says, If God should smite me with sickness, I could bear it, but not in my children; or, If God would afflict me only in such a degree, I could submit; but my heart can hardly yield to so great a measure of affliction. Thus we would have it according to our minds as to the measure or the continuance of our afflictions. We would be corrected for so many days; but to have months of vanity and years of trouble, is not according to our mind.

Man would have God govern (not only himself, but) the whole world according to his mind. Man has much of this in him. Luther wrote to Melancthon, when he was so exceedingly troubled at the providence of God in the world, “Our brother Philip is to be admonished that he would forbear governing the world.” We can hardly let God alone to rule that world which Himself alone has made.—Caryl.