The “I Don’t Care” Behind My Sin

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (James 3:16)

The cesspool of sin is fed by the vile ooze of arrogance. The arrogance overflows from hearts that are being choked by jealousy and selfish ambition.

Arrogant men shove pornography into the recesses of their selfish hearts, and as they shove, they make a declaration: “I don’t care! I don’t care what this is doing to my God-given mind. I don’t care about the toll this will take on my soul. I don’t care what my wife would think. I don’t care about the lies. I don’t care about my Creator’s expectations. I. Don’t. Care.” Arrogant men feast on pornography.

Arrogant women shove morsels of gossip into the recesses of their jealous hearts, and as they shove, they make a declaration: “I don’t care! I don’t care what this doing to my God-given conscience. I don’t care about the toll this will take on my soul. I don’t care about the damage this is doing. I don’t care about the possibility of misrepresentation. I don’t care about my Lord’s commandments. I. Don’t. Care.” Arrogant women feed at the buffet of gossip.

Of course, the roles can be reversed. Arrogant women give their hearts over to lust just as arrogant men loan their tongues to slander. The tipping point, whatever the sin, is arrogance.

Arrogance derives from the Latin arrogāre, which means “to claim as one’s own.” When I sin, I shortsightedly lay claim over territory to which I have no right. In arrogance I proclaim:

• “I have the right to disregard God’s wisdom and warnings.”
• “I have the right to look at this person’s nakedness.”
• “I have the right to sex before marriage.”
• “I have the right to another person’s spouse.”
• “I have the right to use my mind as a harbor for impure thoughts.”
• “I have the right to destroy her reputation.”
• “I have the right to explode in a fit of anger.”
• “I have the right to take it if I want it.”
• “I have the right to say what I want to say when I want to say it.”
• “I have the right to create a wedge of division.”
• “I have the right to supplant God as Ruler in my heart.”

“I. Don’t. Care. I. Have. The. Right.” This is the Satan-shaped slogan of sin.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (James 3:16)