Jesus made clear what is the greatest commandment: to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:34-40). Here is God’s highest aspiration for His creation. Yet so many of us, religious and non-religious, fail to go in this direction. Why don’t more people grow spiritually? May I propose one significant reason, which was stated in Proverbs? “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 21:2a).
Sin tells me to put self first. So any thoughts that promote my self-comfort will sit well with me. Any ideas or acts that advance my self-interest will have my blessing. Every intent of the heart that boosts my self-righteousness (and puts down others) is right in my own eyes.
Over the years, we build up many layers of self-righteousness, all which help us to see that we are good in our own eyes: “I go to church regularly.” “I didn’t end up in prison like those people.” “I’m not a religious hypocrite.” “I read the Bible/go to Bible studies/attend prayer meetings more than they do.”
And none of these thoughts further the greatest commandment. In Matthew 5-7, Jesus makes war on the kingdom of self with the kingdom of God. To us who favor thoughts of revenge, Jesus advises mercy. To those who favor joining the world, Jesus instructed them to be light and salt. We who justify our hatred of another person are advised to meet with him or her and work it out instead. The list goes on, showing us that everything we do is not only right in our own eyes, but is the opposite of kingdom values. We in our flesh are against everything God stands for. The flesh wars against the Spirit, so we don’t do as we ought.
We don’t change because we are as comfortable in our sinful state as the sharks in the water and vultures in the air. All of our choices keep us in our narrow comfort zone where we are king.
In contrast, the apostle Paul, after accomplishing for the kingdom of God what a thousand of us readers together couldn’t match in our lifetimes, summed up himself thus: “Christ Jesus came to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15). The self-proclaimed ‘chief of sinners’ knew that in himself, in his flesh, dwelt no good thing (Romans 7:18). Paul died to the law that he might live to God (Galatians 2:19). Rather than insisting on his rights and privileges, Paul accepted a humble life: “I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men” (1 Corinthians 4:9). He died daily to live the crucified life so that Christ would live through him.
We must consider the possibility that everything we hold dear has been full of self and not of God. The rich young ruler preferred his riches (Luke 18:18-30). The Pharisee held to his self-righteousness (Luke 18:9-14). The slave clung to his lack of mercy (Matthew 18:21-35). All lost disastrously.
Love for Christ and treating our neighbor the way we would pamper ourselves requires putting Christ first and considering our neighbor as one for whom Christ died. If my wife were to be taken from me, then I would have no marriage. Similarly, if we remove Christ from our Christianity, then our religion would consist of a black hole. We cannot serve two masters, self and Christ, or we will love one and despise the other. As the Bible teaches, we already love ourselves too much. So Jesus demands that we lose our lives — lose whatever we have that defines our self-life — that we may find a true and rich relationship life with Jesus.
Making lifestyle changes is hard, such as learning new ways of eating to lose weight and keep it off, take up a new skill like a musical instrument, or becoming like Jesus. It requires conscious dedication and many fall by the wayside. To succeed in this endeavor of Christlikeness, you refuse to be the star of the show. Jesus is the star, and you the supporting player. Be the Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes; the butler Alfred to Batman. We need to live in the shadow of a great Savior. As John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
But John did not stop there. “He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies” (John 3:31-32a). John was sent to bear witness of the light of Jesus. What has Jesus said to you of what He has “seen and heard”? Go and bear witness of that.
We need to learn again what it means to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, for every decision we’ve made has really been to put me, myself, and I on the throne: we live as mini-lords.
But there is hope for change. The Holy Spirit will point out the areas we need to change if we ask Him to. The Word will show us the proper way to honor Christ if we express a sincere desire for His guidance before reading. Applying the cross according to Romans chapter six will set us free from besetting sins. The God who breathed new life into this world at creation still renews lives that are surrendered to Him. The Father who welcomed the long-lost son home will still open His arms to us. The Shepherd who sought and found the lost lamb and brought it home rejoicing wants every lamb safe with Him.
May the New Year be one where we grow in faith and change more and more into the image of Jesus Christ, loving Him best of all. May we abide under the shadow of the Almighty and find our greatest treasure there.
