Fear, Pride and Connection

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“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”

So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

- Exodus 1:9-11

Imagine that you’re Pharaoh. You’ve just come to power. There are hundred of thousands of Israelites in Egypt. They are a distinct family, a distinct nation with their own culture and traditions. And they are growing.

Pharaoh had three options: work with them, send them away or enslave them. His fear kept him from working with them. His pride kept him from sending them away. All he had left was to enslave them.

When fear and pride drive things, they lead us to make decisions that have painful consequences for others. This is true in our personal lives, our business settings, our politics, and our marriages.

Fear and pride threaten to ruin us. This is especially true when dealing with the unfamiliar or people who are different from us.

Here’s one example of how this plays out. When we’re around people who have a lot more money than us, this generates noises in our souls. Our fear piques and we worry about being rejected. Our pride stirs and we strive to be accepted. We’re driven to behave in ways that hurt us (spending more than we can afford) or hurt them (refusing to engage in authentic friendship).

Don’t let fear and pride keep you from connecting with people who are different from you. God has amazing things in store for us when we connect across the barriers that so often divide human beings.

Where do you see fear and pride threatening to keep you from connecting with someone who is different from you? How can you reach across that divide this week?

2 Comments

I have needed an awful lot of help since God led me to CCC. I look around and seek spiritual guidance from people who are more mature in their walk. I am very good at asking for help now. I want so much to be stronger and relationships with others who are stronger than me is necessary.

Preach it Brother!!!

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