Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles
himself shall be exalted (Luke 14:11).

A small percentage of people defend against rejection by buying
into the dog-eat-dog system of the world and learning to compete
and scheme to get ahead of the pack. These are the movers and
shakers, people who earn acceptance and strive for significance
through their performance. They feel driven to get on top of
every situation because winning is their passport to acceptance.
They are characterized by perfectionism and emotional insulation
and they struggle with anxiety and stress.

Spiritually, the beat-the-system individual refuses to come under
God’s authority and has little fellowship with God. This person
is committed to controlling and manipulating people and
circumstances for his own ends, so it is difficult for him to
yield control in his life to God. In our churches this person
jockeys to be chairman of the ruling board or the most
influential member on a committee. His motivation is not to serve
God in this position, however, but to control his world because
his self-worth is dependent on it. Beat-the-system controllers
are some of the most insecure people you will meet.

Sadly, the controlling individual’s defensive strategy only
delays inevitable rejection. Eventually his ability to control
his family, his employees, and his church diminishes and he is
replaced by a younger, stronger controller. Some survive this
mid-life crisis, but many who make it to retirement don’t enjoy
much of it. Studies show that high-powered executives live an
average of nine months after they retire. They base their lives
in the world system they seek to conquer, but inevitably the
world claims its own. “See to it that no one takes you captive
through philosophy and empty deception, according to the
tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the
world, rather than according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

Gracious Lord, teach me to be in this world but not of it. I
choose Your kingdom to be my standard.

This daily devotional is published and distributed by
http://www.GOSHEN.net/ . It is written by Neil Anderson at
http://www.freedominchrist.com/ .

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