When self is on the throne

God could not use Moses when he was a prince in Egypt, with all the training for taking over as the next Pharaoh, because he was full of himself. He took it upon himself to be the saviour of Israel, failed, and had to flee for life into a desert. It was only after 40 years of breaking of his self that God was able to pick him to lead Israel. Jacob was full of scheming and deception who imagined that he could get through any tough situation through his shrewdness, till he found himself shivering for fear at the news of Esau coming to meet him. He became a prince with God, Israel, only when he clung to God for blessings (Ge.32:26). Peter used to be quick with his opinions, even to correct the Lord, till he fell to the depths denying Jesus. Then he learnt the greatest lesson of his life, not to have high thoughts about himself. Isn't this the problem with many of us or all of us, when we think too much of ourselves, and place too much confidence on our abilities?

How can we detect it if it is our self and not the Lord who is on the throne of our life? Then we decide what we are going to do, without seeking God to know His plans. We make our own detailed strategies just as they do in the world. We imagine our opinions are right even when God's word says something else. We argue to support our views without even considering the possibility that we could be wrong, and being willing to learn. We interpret the word of God according to what is convenient for us or what the general trend in the world is, without submitting to what God has revealed in His word. We cannot accept that we don't know everything. We will not accept any mistake we make, but pass the blame to others or find excuses for ourselves. We admire the things that are considered great by the people of the world and we cannot see what God values (Lk.16:15). Etc.

"Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you" (Jas.4:10). It is when we stand before God and compare ourselves with Him that we can immediately see who and what we really are. It is when we see ourselves as sinners, with a sinful nature, and limited in every way, that we have the experience of falling down on our face in front of God. Then we will be 'broken' from our sense of being self-righteous, self-sufficient, capable, shrewd, etc., in ourselves. Then we will realise how small we are, and how dependent we are on God. Then we will be wanting to learn from God, do what He says, and submit our mind to His ways. Then we will lay down our opinions in preference to His teachings.

We can see how very few Christians have had the privilege of being broken like this before God. But from such people we receive an aroma, just as in the case of the broken alabaster jar releasing the perfume. Shall we not learn to rejoice when God allows the situations of life to break our pride so that we can become more attached to the Vine so that His life can flow into us and bear godly fruit in us?