You Nailed It!

“Did you just shoot yourself with the nail gun?” my father-in-law asked me as I was standing on a ladder about twelve feet off the ground.

We were up at the family’s cabin doing some finish carpentry and my task was to install trim on a stained glass window on one of the gable ends of the building.

“No” was my simple reply back to him,  as I didn’t want to be distracted in my attempt to continue my work…Or at least that is what I was hoping would be communicated to him…

“Yes you did; I saw you do it!” he replied.

“No, you are mistaken”, I said hoping he would drop it so that I could finish my work.

“Then move your hand” he replied in attempt to get me to tell what really happened…And, I was busted!

What had happened was in my attempt to hold two pieces of trim together and nail them I had shot a nail through one of my fingers and attached it to the window frame!

And, for some reason, I didn’t want to admit that I had nailed not only the trim together, but also my finger to the frame!

Why is that? One simple word: PRIDE. Arrogance, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly, swelling…

So I “stood my ground” not wanting to admit that I my finger was nailed to window frame as I was standing on a ladder about twelve feet off the ground. Nor did I want to admit that I needed help removing my finger from the window frame…which I eventually did…

This wasn’t the first time I had done something in front of others and hoped that they hadn’t noticed it. I know, seems hard to believe; right?

There were numerous other times like when I walked off the end of our dock (while fully dressed) as I was giving directions to a passing boat…and with my family watching me as I did it!

I have been poked, probed, hit, tripped; all at the amusement of others, all the while attempting to make it look as though it was planned.

One time I accidently stabbed myself after our Bible Study with an antique crochet hook; the kind that are used for crocheting doilies. It was so sharp that whatever it touched was instantly attached like a burr attaches itself to your pant leg as you walk past a field.

I had been playing with it (don’t ask me why) by bouncing it off the right side off my body and I ended up stabbing myself to the point in which I couldn’t stand up because it had penetrated my skin into the muscle…

I still have an internal scar from this event that when hit causes me pain!

But even worse than that, others from our Bible Study group were watching and they saw me stab myself!

And once again the denial came because of one simple word: PRIDE.

 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

So why is it we let pride get in the way in admitting that we are hurt or did something wrong or that we need others to help us? Why is it that we are so prideful to the point that we won’t ask for help even when we are nailed to a board twelve feet off the ground?

Simply put, we live in a world that is not how things are supposed to be. It is a world filled with pride:

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16)

Then what is the antidote for pride? One simple word: HUMILITY. to depress; figuratively to humiliate (in condition or heart): - abase, bring low, humble (self).

The Bible says;

“When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)

“A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23)

 “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

How do we get humility? How can we cut through our stubbornness and allow others to bring a hammer?

Simply put; we look to Jesus. He knew how to humble Himself:

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5-7)

We look to Jesus:

“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

I need to excuse myself because I think that I just nailed myself to another board…

 

All Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.