If jealousy is a silent killer, I think self-righteousness has to be a whispering sin. It is a sin that resides in the recesses of your heart, whispering that you’ve earned it, you’re doing enough, you’re doing more than others. This is a serious sin, because it spits in the face of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If we could do it on our own — if we could somehow merit our own salvation with good works and good intentions and generous gifts — then why did Jesus die? Why did Deity come to earth in human form and suffer and bleed and die for us? If we can do it on our own, why would He ever go through all of that???
It’s such a heinous sin, self-righteousness, and yet I think it’s a sin far more of us commit than we like to admit. Because again, it’s an internal battle, right? No one else knows if you do things to receive glory and accolades from peers. No one knows if you help just to get a thank you. No one knows if you say nice prayers to have others pat you on the back. No one knows if you think you’re something because you give your time and talent and life to the Lord. No one, that is, but our God.
Which is why Jesus comes down so hard on the self-righteous. There is no place for that kind of attitude in the heart of a Christian. It is completely unChristlike. Jesus— who IS GOD!! — came to earth and was spit on and mocked and murdered by the ones He created. And yet He spent His life in service, in submission. Who are we to think we are anyone?!? So we do good deeds. So we are tired because of the time we spend in service to the King of Kings. NOTHING we could ever give is enough. Nothing we could ever do deserves anything but death (Rom. 6:23).
So take a hard look at the words of Jesus. Some people want to paint Jesus as only gushing love, but He also speaks justice and warning and destruction, because He is just. Let the words of Jesus sink into your heart. Meditate on them when you think you’re doing enough. When you think you’re doing better than someone else. When you think you’re the stuff. When you think too much about yourself at all. Remember, and repent. Let all that we do only ever praise and glorify our God.
“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:26)
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. (Luke 11:42-43)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:25-28)
Woe to us. WOE to us if we think we are something. We are nothing, Jesus is everything. Glorying God is the purpose of our life. If someone thinks I’m talented, I’ll point them to the One who blessed me with the gifts I have. If someone praises me for something I do, I will sing the praises of the One who gave me life and sustains my life. If I start praising myself, I will quickly remind myself of who I was without Jesus (Eph. 2:11-13).
Self-righteousness comes in as a whisper. Don’t believe that voice. You don’t deserve heaven. You don’t deserve Jesus. But thanks be to God that He gives us all things that we don’t deserve, and covered the debt we owed with the blood of His own Son!
