Elitist Attitude.

UCB Word For You 

Elitist attitude (3)

16 JANUARY 2023

‘Humble yourselves…and…he will lift you up in honour.’ 1 Peter 5:6 NLT

Have you ever looked down on someone because they didn’t share or have the advantages that you have in life? Do you feel superior to others in any aspect of your life? Do you believe that being part of a particular church denomination puts you in a special class? Maybe the way you look and dress makes you feel superior to others. Do you ever feel that somehow, you’re entitled to better treatment or deserve more rewards than others? 

Whenever we feel any of these things, it’s time to submit our attitude to the Holy Spirit. But when it comes to elitism, there’s another side to the coin. It’s possible to label a person or a group as elitist solely because they enjoy a particular advantage that we find intimidating and alienating due to our own self-doubt, or to try to improve our image in other people’s eyes.

Politicians do this. A candidate might accuse their opponent of elitism simply because of access to family wealth, or a diploma from a prominent university, or a high profile, or influential friends. As a result, that opponent accuses the other of reaching out to blue-collar workers and being dishonest about how regular and down to earth they are.

The truth is, it’s not what we do but what we believe that establishes whether we have an elitist attitude. It’s easy to spot pride in others and hard to see it in ourselves. That’s why Peter wrote, ‘Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour.’

What Now?

Ask God to make you aware of any areas of pride or elitism within yourself. Pray that you’d stay humble and also that you’d be able to celebrate other people’s gifts and achievements.

Elitist attitude (2)

15 JANUARY 2023

‘It was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.’ 1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT

Whenever we think less of someone because they’re not a member of our church denomination, gender, or social group, we’re displaying an elitist attitude. Elitism is rooted in pride, and ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble’ (James 4:6 NIVUK). Here are two Bible examples of the elitist ‘they’re not one of us’ attitude:

1) When God poured out His Spirit upon the seventy elders who led Israel, they all prophesied. Two of them were not present when it happened. Later, Joshua saw them prophesying and reported it to Moses. ‘“My lord, forbid them!” Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”’ (Numbers 11:28-29 NKJV). Joshua believed that only a select group were qualified.

2) ‘John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us”’ (Mark 9:38-40 NLT).

If we exclude others or feel superior to them in any aspect of life, we should read these words from Paul: ‘But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favour on me – and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.’

What Now?

Is there someone in your school, church, or workplace that you’ve tended to look down on or excluded in some way? Ask God to help you find ways to connect with them and get to know them better, so you can discover and appreciate all their great qualities.

Elitist attitude (1)

14 JANUARY 2023

‘Don’t think you are better than you really are.’ Romans 12:3 NLT

Paul wrote: ‘Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well’ (v.3-6 NLT).

Paul is teaching us this important principle: ‘Don’t have an elitist attitude.’ If we’re inclined to be elitist, to combat this attitude we need to remember the truth that every advantage or favour that we enjoy is a gift from God (see 1 Corinthians 4:7). Whatever God has given us or allowed us to accomplish must never be used for our own glory.

Even if we think we achieved things on our own, with our own skills and effort, read these words and take them to heart: ‘Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being…he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names’ (Philippians 2:3-9 NLT).

What Now?

Thank God for every success, skill, and gift that He’s blessed you with – because the glory ultimately belongs to Him.