Ed, my neighbour next door, had a major setback last week. He and Ruby, his wife, were speeding home in Ed's black truck when the truck started sputtering and acting like it was going to cough up a hair ball. Next to Ruby, that black truck is the closest thing to Ed's heart. Ruby says she was sure she was going to end up walking home by herself, because if the truck died at the side of the highway Ed would never leave it there all alone. After several sputtering miles, they reached town and the deadly silence in the truck cab began to subside. Ed said through clenched teeth that he was dropping Ruby off at home and that he was on his way to the truck dealership to see about his ailing truck.
Ruby said they were both sick. The truck was not running smoothly and Ed was upset - suffering indigestion from his wounded pride. His boasts about his best-of-the-bunch truck were coming back to bite him. Ed claims the make and model of his truck are the best you can get. He admits to being a penny pincher, except when it comes to his truck.
There is nothing wrong with being satisfied with what you own, but satisfaction easily slips into arrogance or boasting with disrespect for the possessions of others. One session of a coughing, sputtering, rough drive doesn't make Ed's truck a lemon, but it does prove it isn't always better than any other truck.
It is our pride that makes us rather desperate, or defensive, about being right. It is pride that stings when what we prize appears average or ordinary or inferior. Pride is about being the best or among the best. Pride is about looking good, running good, being admired and being without fault. We expect the best from what we own and from others. Pride keeps us from keeping a realistic perspective and proper boundaries. Our worth and value do not come from what we own or drive.
Yesterday, I asked Ed, "Do you want a new truck for Christmas?" It wasn't a smart thing to do. Not only is Ed proud of his truck, he is loyal to it, even to the point of refusing to admit there ever could be anything wrong with it. As far as Ed is concerned, his truck is the best there is and nothing will ever change that. I'm convinced that even if I found it dead on the road 50 times Ed still wouldn't say a bad word against it.
It made me think of God. Who could be more loyal toward us than our God? Since Adam and Eve, we have been sputtering around. We don't run smoothly with each other or with our heavenly Father. We mostly won't even admit there is anything wrong with us or those we like. Thankfully, God is our loyal owner! Instead of giving up on us, He sent His very own Son to live and die and arise from the tomb for us. Through our faith in Jesus Christ, God can see us as the best there is. Who could ask for anything more?
