It's Unrighteous to be Self-Righteous

 

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  

Matthew 5:3 

 

The kingdom of heaven will be populated by the humble and not the arrogant. Jesus in His sermon on the mount; found in Matthew 5, begins by saying that the poor in spirit are blessed. This is not a reference to money or finances. To be "poor in spirit" is the opposite of being self-confident or self-reliant, particularly in the spiritual sense. The poor in spirit recognize they are incapable of providing for themselves by their own strength, goodness, or righteousness. They understand

. . . by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  Ephesians  2:8

 and know themselves to be spiritually bankrupt of true goodness. They know they can’t hope to bargain or earn their way into the kingdom of heaven.

We’re in a period of time where it behooves us not to grieve the spirit of God or to be outside of His will.  This takes a diligent, dedicated, made up, no turning back, I’m sold out, God-first, Jesus-conscious mind set!  It’s a balance that we achieve in our maintenance of the greatest relationship of our lives.  We don’t want to be too far to the left – those that think it doesn’t take all that.  Nor do we want to be too far to the right – thinking we’re sufficient unto ourselves; heaping credit on our self instead of acknowledging God.  Those are the ones that don’t understand:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.   For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:9-10

Both of those are unbalanced relationships that most definitely grieve the Holy Spirit. 

Apostle Paul gives some exhortation on things that we should avoid and among them, in particular is this one:     

Let no man deceive you by any means:   2 Thessalonians 2:2:3

No man means even yourself.  Because we already know that there are some people that you can’t tell them anything.  They are right; no matter what the conversation and situation may be.  They will argue that they have this thing with God all wrapped up.  There is a term for those kinds of people; it’s called self-righteous. 

Now, the dictionary definition of self-righteousness is “confidence in one’s own righteousness, especially when smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others.”

I’ve spoke before about where our confidence should lie – in God and God alone.

Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

Biblically speaking, self-righteousness is the idea that we can somehow generate within ourselves a righteousness that will be acceptable to God.  Every believer should recognize the error of this thought, because of our sin nature, it is a constant temptation to all of us to believe that we are, or can be, righteous in and of ourselves.  But the bible tells us:  

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  Romans 10:3

Self-righteousness causes us to be puffed up in ourselves and do and say things unbecoming to God.  

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.   Philippians 2:3

Vainglory is an excessive, inordinate pride in one’s self or one's achievements; undue vanity; over inflated ego.  

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  Romans 12:3

Not only that the bible tells us that ‘God resists the proud’.  James 4:6

Remember, Apostle Paul tells us:  

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:3

What happens is that we reduce God down to our level and falsely assume that because we are pleased with our self or that others are pleased with us, God is therefore or must be pleased with us also.  But the bible states that there is a disconnect between our thoughts and God’s thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).  We think that because we move people with our words, that this somehow puts us in special favor with God and causes us to be exempt from His word as if it somehow does not apply to us.  So now, we are no longer glorifying God, but ourselves.   The glory goes to God, but how do we see or hear others or even ourselves magnify ourselves:  our job, our car, our home, our children, our clothes, let’s go even further – our ministry, our singing, our dancing, our praying all to the exclusion of glorifying God!  Among other things, how self-righteous is that?

God is not so much looking at your actions or your deeds as much as He is concerned with the condition of your heart.  

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.  Luke 16:15

We should see our self in the same manner that Apostle Paul saw himself:  

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:12

If righteousness could come from our own actions, then Jesus died “for no purpose”

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21),

 Or that righteousness could come “by the law”

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.   Galatians 3:21-22

The purpose of the law was to make obvious to everybody that we’re, in ourselves, out of right relationship with God, and therefore to show us the futility of devising some religious system for getting by on our own efforts what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete his promise. If any kind of rule-keeping had power to create life in us, we would have certainly gotten it by this time.

It would be an understatement to say that every believer is plagued by this attitude. It is in our sin nature to try to do something to merit our salvation.   All we have to remember is that Jesus paid it for us by His blood with no contribution from us.  That’s sometimes difficult for our prideful hearts to understand or appreciate.

It is far easier to compare ourselves with one another than it is to recognize that we can’t measure up to the standards of a holy God.

Through Christ we can know true righteousness. In Christ, we can know the forgiveness of sin that comes to us through grace. Because He stood in our place, we benefit from both His sinless life and His sin-bearing death.  

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  2 Corinthians 5:21

We all want to make a good impression!  Unfortunately, many of us forget that God is much more concerned about the intent and the condition of our heart than He is about our actions.  You may fool man, but you cannot fool God!  He is a discerner of our thoughts and the intent of our hearts.  

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him . . .    (Hebrews 4:13)

It’s what God says about us that makes the difference.  For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.  2 Corinthians 10:18

If you’re looking for men to commend you, you’re not in agreement with God’s word.

Stop trying to impress people.  If we want to impress someone let it be God.  How do I impress God?  By staying God-centered and Jesus focused.

God knows the very thoughts and intentions of our hearts:  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.  Proverbs 16:2

Someday we will stand before Him to give an account of our lives. So we must judge the iniquity within on that thought level.   Self-righteous people tend to justify themselves by blaming others. Self-righteousness is a very difficult sin to get people to see and condemn in themselves. But it’s a serious, damnable sin because it keeps people from seeing themselves in the light of God’s word.  It believes the misinformation that we can be good enough in ourselves to qualify for heaven. Thus, we don’t need a Savior who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  

It is easy to be blind to this deadly sin of self-righteousness.  So let me give you some signs to look for:    

• We’re prone to self-righteously judge others for the very same sins that we are prone to:  

“Therefore, you have no excuse, every one of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”  (Romans 2:1).

• A self-righteous person judges the sins of others while overlooking his own sins. 

 As Jesus says:  “You person, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”   (Matthew. 7:5),

• A self-righteous person judges others based on selective standards, not on all of God’s Word. 

One of the most helpful chapters for understanding the sin of self-righteousness is Jesus’ indictment of the Pharisees.  They picked out certain parts of the Law and prided themselves on their obedience, but they neglected the weightier parts of the Law:  

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, persons! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.  Matthew 23:23

The self-righteous person picks parts of the Bible that he likes and prides himself on keeping those parts.  

• A self-righteous person is more concerned about external conformity than with true, inner godliness. 

Jesus said  “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”   Matthew 23:28

Self-righteous persons want to keep up outward “Christian” appearances, but they don’t judge their own sins on the heart level. They put on the happy Christian face at church, but use abusive speech with their families  and others outside of church.

• A self-righteous person is not interested in helping others grow in godliness, but only in gaining a following. 

Jesus said, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, persons, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”  Matthew 23:13 

They didn’t care about the people or their hearts before God. They just wanted to gain followers so that they looked good.

• A self-righteous person justifies himself by comparing himself with others or by blaming others for his own sins or shortcomings. 

 Jesus told the parable of the proud Pharisee who went to the temple and prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get” (Luke 18:11-12). He wasn’t comparing himself with God’s Word, which condemns pride. Rather, he was comparing himself with others who, in his mind, were worse than he was. In his mind, he kept some of the Law; the tax collector didn’t keep any of it. The bible lets us know:  

The riches of God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience should lead you to repentance, not to presume on His grace.   Romans 2:4

If we think that we can get away with ungodliness because God is kind, tolerant, and patient, we’re greatly mistaken! His kindness should lead us to repentance, not to self-righteous complacency.   

God’s solution is to deal with our sins on the heart level before Him.  Therefore, we come to Jesus and confess our sins, turn from them, and He forgives and cleanses us from all ungodliness including self-righteousness.  

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   1 John 1:9

It’s unrighteous to be self-righteous!

Those who are poor in spirit have no room; can’t afford to be self-righteous.  We should all spend time daily in God’s Word. It’s like looking in the mirror and applying soap and water to the dirt in our soul. Don’t play games with God. His kindness should lead us to genuine, ongoing repentance.  Let's spend time in the spiritual garden of our heart and let God commune with us as he tends to the garden; removing the thorns and thistles and weeds and rocks so that the soil of our heart is conducive to godly growth.

I pray this word today encourages you, edifies as well as empowers you to grow in God.

God Bless you!

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