King Canute ruled over Denmark, Norway, and England more than one thousand years ago, early in the 11th century.  A wise ruler, he worked diligently to make the lives of his subjects better.  As is often the case, he was surrounded by those who sought to gain influence and prominence with him, and according to the ancient story, he grew tired of their continual flattery and determined to put an end to it.  He ordered that his throne be carried out to the seashore and gathered his courtiers about it.

Henry of Huntingdon’s account in his Historia Angloru, in the early twelfth century, is the oldest record of the story of what happened on this occasion:

When he was at the height of his ascendancy, he ordered his chair to be placed on the sea-shore as the tide was coming in.  Then he said to the rising tide, “You are subject to me, as the land on which I am sitting is mine, and no one has resisted my overlordship with impunity.  I command you, therefore, not to rise on to my land, nor to presume to wet the clothing or limbs of your master.”

But the sea came up as usual, and disrespectfully drenched the king's feet and shins.  So jumping back, the king cried, “Let all the world know that the power of kings is empty and worthless, and there is no king worthy of the name save Him by whose will heaven, earth and the sea obey eternal laws.” *

“Pride is a telescope turned the wrong way.
It magnifies self and makes the heavens small.”
– C.S. Lewis

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis also called pride “the essential vice,” “the utmost evil,” and “the complete anti-God state of mind.”

The cure for pride is humility.  Humility demands that we recognize that “there is no king worthy of the name save Him by whose will heaven, earth and the sea obey eternal laws.”  That King is Jesus.  “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).

Here is an amazing truth: that same King gave His life for you and me so that we can be saved and live eternally with Him in heaven.  He died on the cross for our sins so that through His atoning death, we can be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

God will save those who humble themselves and submit their lives to the King by placing their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing the name of Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to humbly walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
-- James 4:6

Don’t let pride deceive you into thinking that you are the center of the universe.  Humble yourself and submit your life to the King.  Then you will know the true, eternal, spiritual blessings of His heavenly kingdom.

-- David A. Sargent

Sources: “The Emptiness of Flattery” in www.ministry127.com citing A Primary History of Britain for Elementary Schools by William Smith and www.wikipedia.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org