We Are All Kanye West

So if you keep up with the entertainment world at all, you have heard about Kanye attempting to once again steal the award away from someone. At the Grammys last night, Beck won the Album of the Year award for his album "Morning Phase". Other people in this category included Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Pharrell, and Beyonce. Kanye West went up on stage in a joking manner while Beck was accepting his Grammy in a flashback of the 2009 MTV awards where he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech. Later on last night, West defended himself by saying he was not upset with Beck but the Grammys in general and states that "even Beck thought that Beyonce should win".

So now that you are all caught up on the entertainment world drama, I want to touch on the real reason why Kanye did what he did, and how we all do the same thing, every single day. The frank and honest answer is this: Pride. To be honest, I have only heard Beck's music one other time in my life thanks to one of my music-saavy roommates. Beyonce on the other hand, she frequently peruses my day. She is talented. And I can totally see why she deserved to be nominated and even win. But what Kanye did was say that despite the 13,000 people who cast their votes on who should win a Grammy, Kanye's vote was more important than theirs. And I wonder if he thinks this because he thinks he is better somehow than those that voted. Now read this, I am not Kanye and I can't claim to know everything he thinks/his intentions; I am merely interpreting his actions. And my interpretations have lead me to one truth: I am Kanye.

No, I am not married to Kim Kardashian but I am so guilty of thinking I deserve things that are often not given to me. And even worse, I diminish the accomplishments of my friends in my prideful pouts. Truth is, I deserve death. I deserve it every day. Before I even get out of the bed in the morning, my thoughts have condemned me death. Thankfully, I have a Savior who died on a cross for me and took my condemnation on Himself so I can live. If He did nothing else for me ever, it would still have been enough and I would still not deserve it. So in my sinful nature, I often times think I "deserve" things from God. And when I don't get them, I get bitter towards God and my attitude often times rubs off on others. But what about when my friends receive the blessings I am yearning for? Forget about it. I try to diminish the excitement of the blessing ("I mean I guess that's a cool thing. Whatever.") or act like I never wanted it in the first place. What I don't do is celebrate with my friends. What I don't do is thank my Savior for giving the blessing to my friend. What I don't do is thank God for all the blessings He has given me.

As you can already tell, not only is it pride but also jealousy when blessings are bestowed on someone else. And boy does the bible have a lot to say about both.
Pride:

• Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. 
• Proverbs 16: 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
• Galatians 6: 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Jealousy:

• James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice
• Proverbs 14:30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot
• Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

These are a few of many. Its a serious sin issue. But fret not. Jesus died for your jealousy and pride as well. He has given us so many verses about the hundreds of blessings that we have been given. Open your eyes and look around you. So many blessings. Take your next breath. Blessing. So many things to be thankful for that we must ask God to shift our perspective off what we don't have and on to the millions of things we do have. And as far as when our friends receive blessings we want? Encourage them! Remind them who gave them their blessings. Thank God with them. But never make them feel guilty. Remember 1 Thessalonians 5:11 which says "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing".

Lets kill the Kanye in us all and live in a spirit of thankfulness. I pray jealousy and pride are part of our past and not our future.

Disclaimer: I think Kanye is insanely talented and has been blessed with amazing talents and gifts. I mean, did you all see his Grammy performance? Sheer talent. And his wife is super pretty. And his baby is adorable.