SCRIPTURE
“You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor gloat over them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster. You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble.” Obadiah 12-14
SPOTLIGHT
Have you ever thought, “He had it coming to him…or…She deserved that…”? Perhaps your neighbor needs assistance, but instead you say to yourself, “I could have told him that would happen.” Maybe you have said to someone, “I told you so. You should have listened.” Or, maybe you are just as guilty as your friend who got caught cheating on a test, but you gloat by saying, “That didn’t happen to me…NANANANANA.” Whether you have quietly said such things to yourself, or aloud to others, you have done what is described as, “gloating.”
In the book of Obadiah, which is named after its author, there is a theme that runs throughout that warns about the peril of gloating. The Edomites were an arrogant nation that gloated over the troubles, and misfortunes of Israel. When enemies attacked Israel, the Edomites refused to help them and actually fought against them, to the point that they participated in looting, and also giving up the Israelites as fugitives.
Have you ever seen a goat look at you like you are a stupid human being, rather than having the privilege of being a gloating goat? Their gaze seems to be so prideful. I call that the goat gloat. People do it all the time. You can gloat like a goat when you see someone speeding down the road, only later to see his car overturned. Maybe you gloat like a goat when you observe a young teenage, pregnant girl. What about giving the goat gloat when you pass a drunk on a corner, or hear about a druggie who overdosed and died?
The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines the word gloat, “to show in an annoying way that you are proud of your own success, or happy about someone else’s failure.” Gloating describes the person who delights in his/her own success, while delighting in another person’s misfortune due to stupidity, pride, greed, clumsiness, misjudgment, carelessness, etc. Sometimes winning athletes claim, “I’m number 1. I’m the best.” People at work who pilfer things, feel good about other pilfering people who get caught.
DON’T GLOAT LIKE A GOAT! The Bible says,“ Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.” [Proverbs 17:5].
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove, and turn his wrath away from them. [Proverbs 24:17,18]. The gloating Edomites became an extinct nation. Gloating led to their downfall. Jesus Christ’s message to a gloater is very clear when He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous, and the unrighteous.” [Matthew 5:43-45].
Here is how to avoid gloating:
#1. Winners don’t gloat when they win. Good sportsmanship is not emphasizing your score over your opponent’s. Making the most sales is not pompously parading your success, but instead sharing the victory with those who helped. A great winner will not say, “I win…you lose!”
#2. People who don’t gloat make great friends. If you have someone in your life who gloats, strike him/her off your friend list. They will not be there when you need them.
#3. Leaders who make the greatest impact in life are those who lead with sympathy and compassion, when their enemy experiences misfortune. Follow them! Look at Job who testified to never gloating when he was wealthy and powerful but was compassionate and generous. (See Job 31:29,30, and 13-23.)
#4. Expect gloating to increase among people in the end times. (See 2 Timothy 3:1-4.)
SOMETHING TO DO
Here are some “get alone time” questions that you need to ask yourself.
#1. Do I ever laugh, or joke about someone whose face is down in the mud?
#2. Do I talk about someone when everything is going wrong? That is gossip.
#3. Do I take advantage of people when their lives are falling apart?
#4. Do I feel amused by other people’s troubles?
#5. Do I feel like tearing the shirt off the back of an enemy who is defenseless?
#6. Do I turn my eyes away from the helpless, because I think they dug their own hole?
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Almighty God, I am so glad that You are my Heavenly Father, who did not condemn me, but instead sent Your only Son to die for my sin. You could have gloated, but instead You loved me because You are love. Thank you! Make my heart like Yours. AMEN!