Compared to Who?

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. – Gal. 6:3-5 (ESV) 

Few things hinder relationships more than conceitedness. In fact, as you read this you’re probably thinking of someone you know as a prime example. They’re so judgmental that nobody wants to be around them. 

But Paul admonishes us to keep a check on our own self-pride; to not become the Pharisee in the temple praying alongside the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). He instructs us to “test our own work.” In other words, “Don’t compare yourselves to others so that you may feel better about your own shortcomings, but examine yourselves.” 

If we’re honest, most of us will admit that in some way or another we’re guilty of this just about every single day. I run afoul of this most often while I’m driving. I’m cruising along just fine, but someone suddenly pulls out in front of me and now I’m required to slow down and adjust my speed because of their impatience and discourtesy. So while I’m envisioning the joy of shooting rocket propelled grenades at the car ahead of me, I completely forget that I did the same exact thing to someone else just a few miles earlier. 

Turns out that I’m an impatient and discourteous driver, too. 

But this enjoyment I get with feeling better about me at someone else’s expense? That’s just one small example of the many self-righteous comparisons I make each and every day. And sadly, some of them are much more egregious in nature. 

Paul is asking each of us, “Why are you more concerned about others’ shortcomings than your own? What’s that all about? Don’t you know that on the Day of Judgment, God ain’t gonna judge you based on someone else’s heart or what they did or didn’t do, but rather what was in your own heart and your own actions?”

Unless we feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to confront someone else after we’ve caught them transgressing (and even then – only in hopes of restoring them with gentleness and love, Galatians 6:1-2), we’re wise to ensure that we’re not guilty of the same thing. I don’t know about you, but suddenly I don’t feel that eager to be so judgmental. 

“Let each test his own work,” Paul says. God will judge us by His standard, not our own or someone else’s. 

Today’s Prayer: 

Father, forgive me for my prideful attitude. You teach us that before pulling the splinter from our brother’s eye, we’re to extract the log from our own. Help me to see my own conceitedness and self-righteousness. Help me to look to your standard alone, by which all of us will be judged. Help me to be patient, kind, and compassionate toward others. And help me to become more like Jesus. Amen.