The movie portrays a very humble Irv who has learned (the hard way) that when your main motivation for doing something is rooted in pride, nothing you ever accomplish - no matter how great - will ever be enough to satisfy you. One of the many negative byproducts of pride is that one's self-esteem and self-worth are dependent on one's ability to continually accomplish bigger and better things. When such a person can no longer achieve that next goal in their own strength, they resort to lying, cheating, stealing - even killing. Destruction can't help but follow and is in fact, promised. (Proverbs 16:18) This lesson was what Irv is trying to impart not only to Derice, but to us all in the following dialogue.
Irv: You want to know why I cheated, right?
Derice: Yes, I do.
Irv: It's a fair question. It's quite simple, really. I had to win. You see, Derice, I had made winning my whole life, and when you make winning your whole life, you have to keep on winning, no matter what. Understand?
Derice: No, I don't understand. You won two gold medals. You had it all.
Irv: Derice, a gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it.
Derice asks many questions in the line, "No, I don't understand...You had it all." I hear, "Why weren't you satisfied? What happened?" He just cannot wrap his mind around not being satisfied with two golds. We ask similar questions when we see someone's "shocking" sins exposed. One doesn't have to look far to find people who lie, cheat, steal, or kill to gain something that they didn't even need. People question why and often assume that the person just "snapped." What they seldom recognize is that pride was sown, watered and even fertilized well before they became aware of its destruction. Most often, it begins in childhood.
Do you remember being in school and having teachers tell you things like, "Set goals. Dream big. Believe in yourself. Keep a positive attitude. Don't let anything or anyone stand in your way. You can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. Success comes in cans, not cant's. Don't live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable." I remember several of these plastered to the walls of my high school gym. I also recall teachers telling students to write them down and place them in specific areas they looked at multiple times a day such as mirrors, refrigerators, and binders. The thought was, if the kids read these "confidence" quotes often enough, self-esteem and worth would grow, fear of failure would subside, and those things would help them reach their goals and fulfill their dreams in life. Nothing could be further from the truth. These might look good on paper. A quick surface read may even render these sayings harmless or perhaps on some level, helpful but the fact is, they quietly plant the seeds of pride in our children and if they are continually watered and fertilized, they will lead them to a burden-filled life of misery, perhaps even total destruction.
These "confidence" quotes are what now replace the truth of man's need for God, not just in our schools, but in society as a whole. They tell us that we can do whatever we want in life as long as we believe in ourselves, in our ability to control outcomes and circumstances, as if we are gods. And most importantly, don't let anyone get in your way. It's no wonder we live in such a violent, arrogant generation that fails to recognize it's need for God. Society has made God as irrelevant as possible replacing Him with themselves. At this rate, only the "strongest" will survive...
It's as if humans have forgotten they are dust. Forgotten that they came from dirt and they return to dirt. Forgotten that they control nothing including their next breath. Even thought they are reminded of their destiny each time someone dies, somehow they still fail to fully acknowledge their condition. Humans are all born lost, fallen, confused, chaotic and sinful. The cause of this unfortunate condition is that we are all born alienated from our Creator. Every human is inadequate apart from God and as such, will never have any lasting confidence, self-esteem or satisfaction in this life no matter how many vain sayings they write and repeat.
True confidence leading to a sense of fulfillment and adequacy in this life is contingent on our fear of God. (Job 4:6, Proverbs 14:26) Fearing God means you turn from sin, repent, accept Jesus and obey Him. The extent of your obedience to Him will thus be directly proportional to your confidence, peace and satisfaction in life. Isaiah 32:17 says righteousness (right-standing with God) will bring peace, quietness and confidence forever. Children are born with spirits very willing to accept Jesus. They understand they need "someone" to help them in life much easier and better than self-sufficient adults do. Children who live lives filled with lasting love, joy, peace and fulfillment are the ones who were taught to acknowledge and obey God.
We need to be feeding our children the "Truth," early and often to combat a society that is so full of "confidence" that US children now rank #1 in it. The interesting and sad thing about this "revelation" is, many people subconsciously know something is wrong with that picture but cannot put their finger on it. Again, it's called pride. And it leads only one direction: destruction. Here are the fruits of this "confidence" rampant in society today. Rather than moving forward, it regresses. Instead of being diligent, it's lazy. Rather than working, it feels entitled. Instead of being accountable, it absolves itself. Rather than giving, it robs. Instead of telling the truth, it lies. Rather than protecting life, it kills. Rather than thriving, it's dying. Need I go on? And the worst part of it all is that many don't even see it. Pride blinds us to reality until its destruction becomes our undeniable reality.
Proverbs 9:15-17
The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.
Society is reaping what it has sown; the nation which forgets God turns into hell. If one rejects God, no thing in the world will bring their spirit and soul the confidence, peace and wholeness they truly seek. Just turmoil. The devil is out to steal, kill and destroy and without Jesus as our armor, we are naked and helpless before Satan.
Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Joshua 24:15
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
God is our confidence.
The dialogue I quoted from "Cool Runnings" above ends with Derice asking Irv how he'll know if he's enough. Irv replies, "When you cross that finish line, you'll know."
How do we know if we have confidence in this life? 1 John 3:21 says "Beloved, if your heart does not condemn you, you have confidence before God." There is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1) If you read the Word of God and feel condemned by it, you need to humble yourself, and come to Jesus.
Incidentally, the meaning of the phrase cool runnings is: peace be the journey.
2 comments:
How timely for me, what you say here about pride and dust and real confidence. I am spending this month trying to get a soul-complete, living understanding of biblical humility. The reason I need a month for this (at least) is because our present society is so far from understanding it, and so filled with pushing us all to do just like the runner in the movie (before he learned).
I hope you never take this post off your blog, because I want to refer to it often! Thanks!
hi! i enjoyed poking around your blog a bit, and i completely agree with so much of what you wrote in this post. our children do not need to understand that they can do anything or be anything great. they just need to know they are sinners, and to know and understand the gospel--thats the main thing, and after that, i believe it is healthy for them to know they are supported in anything that they feel led to do. they are God's after all, not mine.
blessings in His grace,
Nacole
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