READING: 2 Kings 7-8, 2 Chronicles 21, Matthew 6
I may be wrong, but I suspect all of us are at least vulnerable to pride. Few of us don’t like the praise of man. Even the people I perceive to be the most humble followers of Christ admit this struggle. We know we need to live righteously—but at least at some level, we don’t mind when others recognize just how righteous we are. Our feigned humility hardly covers our real pride.
Jesus warned His followers against this sin: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven” (Matt 6:1). Indeed, He illustrated their faulty tendencies by reminding them not to give, pray, or fast in such a way that others recognize their faithfulness and honor them alone. They were to give, pray, and fast—but only without bringing attention to themselves, and only for God’s glory. Anything less would bring no lasting joy.
Daily – or perhaps even moment-to-moment, I must hear these words again: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.” They force me to look into my heart to an uncomfortable level.
PRAYER: “God, show me my heart, even when it hurts.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Kings 9-10, Psalm 49, Matthew 7