“Arrogance” or “How James Bond Teaches Me Way More Than Just How To Be A Suave, Sophisticated, Poker Playing Uber-Spy.”

A couple months ago the TV network USA started playing Casino Royale, the all too awesome James Bond movie.

In case you weren’t sure, USA is the same network that has given us one of the top 5 television shows of all time: Psych. (The remaining top 4: Scrubs, 30 Rock, Arrested Development and Step by Step).

Yes, Step by Step was a joke. Kind of.

Anyway, I loved the movie Casino Royale. It’s the Batman Begins of the James Bond series, completely redoing and improving the sinking franchise. This chase scene alone is worth watching the movie.

So it’s on TV awhile ago, and I am watching it and M drops this knowledge on our reluctant super spy:

“Arrogance and self-awareness rarely go hand in hand.”

This is a great quote and one that can give us lots to think about.

I really strive to be self-aware. Not just because I like Karen Horney’s theories, or agree with everything Marcus Buckingham says (speaking of suave British men, that guy is legit). But because if you know your strengths and weaknesses, and are able to navigate your emotions, it’s possible to experience a much more holistic view of who we are and our identity in Christ.

It’s a fine line to walk – the balance being self aware and arrogant. One that we should be constantly struggling with and reexamining. Arrogance causes us to value ourselves over others, and instead of being self-aware we can become self-important.

It reminded me of this famous quote from the always wise Oswald Chambers:

“The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and “the lilies of the field” – simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us.

If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on him, and he will make use of you every minute you live – yet you will be unaware, on the conscious levels of your life, that you are being used of him. “

May we be self-aware, not so we can become self-important, but so that we can guard our motivations. And may we maintain our proper relationship with Jesus Christ so that we may be constantly used by Him, even if it means we are unaware.