Doing Right Is Not the Same As Being Good
Self-righteousness is a tricky animal, isn’t it? Most of the time, we cannot even TELL when we are feeling it creep into our thoughts on how we view ourselves.
If you grew up in a home with at least one parent or caregiver that spent much effort in teaching you right from wrong, I’m sorry to say it, but you have probably been guilty of self-righteousness at least once in your life (if not every day).
Am I saying it’s wrong to teach children a sense of morality? No way. Keep at it!
BUT, we need to be careful that in teaching right from wrong, we do not equate “always choosing the right thing” with being a “good person.”
“There is none righteous, no, not one….” (Romans 3:10)
Even Our Good Doesn’t Make Us Good
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) (Think used pads filthy. Gross, right?)
This is tough because if I were to guess, most of us (including myself!) feel like we’re pretty good people… especially when we hear about awful things like human trafficking & preying on children with pedophilia.
But I have a little bubble burst for us today: NONE of us are good people. Some of us are just better at acting good aka making right choices outwardly.
Outward Good Deeds, But a Deceitful Heart
“Outwardly” is the key word in the above section.
If you have read the Bible, you are likely to have seen some of these verses:
“The heart is deceitful above all things….” (Jeremiah 17:9)
Do you know what that verse is followed with? “And desperately wicked.”
Desperately. Wicked. As in, we all have a sin nature.
All of us.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) (emphasis mine)
God Knows Our Innermost Thoughts
Whether we spend our time in homeless shelters or soup kitchens, God still hears & knows our inner thoughts, whether it be complaining inwardly, lusting after someone who is not your spouse, envy, hatred, rebellion, or even our rejection of Him, etc. The Bible warns us to:
“… and we take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Why would God even mention the possibility of taking every thought captive if it wasn’t necessary? Thoughts come in our head with little to no warning, so how does that even work?
It’s not a natural thing to stop those thoughts because they seem so natural to us. I mean, you can’t help how you feel, right?
Well, sort of yes & sort of no.
You Rule It. It Doesn’t Rule You.
Thoughts will naturally pop in because you are flesh with fleshly desires, fears, etc., but God can help you put those thoughts in check so that you control them & so that they don’t control YOU.
You can either say, “Oops, well, that’s just what I think or feel, so I am going to go with it.”
Or, you can say, “God, help me to combat that bad thing that I keep thinking about. I want my thoughts to honor You & others… & I know those thoughts don’t. So, help me clean up my thoughts.”
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2) (emphasis mine)
Obedience from Trust
God wants you to choose the right things, but not to prove our goodness.
He wants us to trust HIS WAY of doing things. He wants us to understand that He can be trusted:
- Because He created all
- Because He is infinitely wise
- Because He loves us each with an everlasting love
If we all followed HIS design of how HE tells us to live, we would have perfect harmony, but unfortunately, we often choose our way instead, not to mention that none of us are without sin.
Doing Good Won’t Earn You a Spot in Heaven
BUT, doing good things will NOT get you into heaven.
You cannot earn God’s love because He already loves you infinitely more than you could EVER imagine.
The fact of the matter is that ALL have sinned & fall short of the glory of God. ALL, including me & including you.
None of us are good.
But God is. Knowing the penalty for our wrongs, our sin, is DEATH (Hell), & knowing that no one is good, no, not one, He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die on our behalf, rising again in GLORY, conquering both sin & death, paying our penalty so that we could be made RIGHT in God’s sight.
Made Righteous in God’s Sight Because of Jesus ALONE
We are not SELF-righteous, we are MADE righteous by the death of Jesus. He paid our debt, in full, despite the fact that NONE of us could ever earn it.
That’s why we seek to live RIGHTEOUSLY, not by our own efforts or our own goodness, but by leaning into God for help to live in a way that honors Him… A life of gratitude & trust & FORGIVENESS.
A life built on grace.
Do Good out of a Grateful Heart to God
Don’t let Satan convince you that because you’re not good, you should try to prove your devotedness to God by being good without asking for God’s help to make you new.
We can’t do it alone & we weren’t meant to because God’s throne room is open to our requests night & day. God allows us to openly come before Him & ask for His help in living a life for Him.
So, ask Him—daily, moment-by-moment. He hears you. He loves you.
You may not be good, but He is & He loves you with an infinite, overflowing love that can never die, no matter what you feel you have done wrong (even purposely to spite Him). He forgives. He is patient & kind.
God IS Love
“God IS Love.” (1 John 4:8) (Emphasis mine)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails….”
God is Love.
Shine Hope by taking your thoughts of self-righteousness to His feet, apologizing, & thanking Him that His grace covers you in full. Shine Hope by living good deeds, not to earn favor, but to honor God.
Trusting in Jesus to Rescue You Means:
If you want to know more about this, please read my testimony of how I finally submitted my doubts to trust Him with my all & learn how you can find His grace for your own life on the “Hope Is Found” tab.
Don’t wait for a tomorrow that may never come.
Coming Next Week
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If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
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Nairobi Necklace
Small hammered ovals & ethically sourced bone shapes adorn this golden necklace that shimmers in the light. Crafted in Kenya.
Artisan Information:
In Kenya, where many people struggle with starvation & poverty, the women we partner with are defying the odds! Your purchase empowers these women to earn an income, overcome physical disabilities, & become important parts of their communities!
Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Kenya!
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