450 The Spiritual Man
A Believer’s Natural DesiresPride springs from desire. Man aspires to obtain a place for
himself that he may feel honored before men. All secret boastings
about one’s position, family, health, temperament, ability, good
looks, and power flow from man’s natural desire. To dwell on how
differently one lives, dresses and eats and to feel self-content in these
differences is also the work of emotion. Even to esteem the gift one
receives from God as superior to that of others is inspired by natural
desire as well.
How extensively an emotional believer comes to display himself!
He loves both to see and to be seen. He cannot abide the restraints of
God. He will try every means to push himself to the front. He is
unable to be hidden according to the will of God and to deny himself
when he is hidden. He wishes others to notice him. When he is not
duly respected his desire of self-love suffers a deep wound. But if he
is admired by people his heart is overjoyed. He loves to hear praising
voices and considers them just and true. He also attempts to elevate
himself in his work, whether in preaching or in writing, for his secret
self motive goads him on. In a word, this one has not yet died to his
desire of vainglory. He is still seeking what he desires and what can
inflate him.
Such natural inclination makes a believer ambitious. Ambition
arises through the unleashing of our natural inclination and desire.
All ambitions to spread one’s fame, become a man above others, and
attract the world’s admiration proceed from the emotional life. Often
in spiritual work the aspirations for success, fruit, power and
usefulness are but pretenses for glorifying oneself. The quest for
growth, depth, and nobler experience is frequently a search for self-
pleasure and the admiration of others. If we trace the course of our
life and work back to their source, we may be surprised to discover
that our desires are the springs behind many of our undertakings.
How we live and work for ourselves!