SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS CHECKED
‘So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.’
We are all naturally proud and self-righteous. Seldom will a man be found, however wicked, who does not secretly flatter himself that there is somebody else worse than he is. Seldom will a saint be found who is not at seasons tempted to be satisfied and pleased with himself. There is such a thing as a pride which wears the cloak of humility. There is not a heart upon earth which does not contain a piece of the Pharisee’s character.
I. To give up self-righteousness is absolutely needful to salvation.—He that desires to be saved must confess that there is no good thing in him, and that he has no merit, no goodness, no worthiness of his own. He must be willing to renounce his own righteousness, and to trust in the righteousness of another, even Christ the Lord. Once pardoned and forgiven, we must travel the daily journey of life under a deep conviction that we are ‘unprofitable servants.’ At our best we only do our duty, and have nothing to boast of. And even when we do our duty, it is not by our own power and might that we do it, but by the strength which is given to us from God.
II. The true cause of self-righteousness.—How is it that such a poor, weak, erring creature as man can ever dream of deserving anything at God’s hands? It all arises from ignorance. The eyes of our understandings are naturally blinded. We see neither ourselves, nor our lives, nor God, nor the law of God as we ought. Once let the light of grace shine into a man’s heart, and the reign of self-righteousness is over. The roots of pride may remain, and often put forth bitter shoots; but the power of pride is broken when the Spirit comes into the heart, and shows the man himself, and God.
Illustration
‘But you may say, “Though I cannot pretend that I have ever really profited God, and though I have not profited as many people as I ought, or any single person as much as I ought, yet I trust and think I have not led an entirely unprofitable life. I hope I have profited some.” Yes, but have you put side by side with the good you have done to some, the harm you have done to others by your conscious or unconscious influence for wrong: and have you asked yourself which is the greater? It is a very solemn consideration, and no man can put it away from himself—“ Has the good or the harm which I have done in life been the greater?” And can any of us say that in any act he ever did, or any word he ever spoke, or any thought he ever thought, his motive was quite pure, no self in it? Did it rise to its proper level? Have you weighed it all fairly? I marvel if you will not yield to your conscience and say, “I have been, to use the very mildest term, I have been an unprofitable servant. I have never done what is my duty; no, not in any one single instance in my whole life; and my best works humble me the most.” ’