Painful Realizations.

Lately I’ve been realizing how proud and selfish I really am. I try to be humble but yet at the same time I’m very proud of my accomplishments, talents and abilities. I don’t think of myself as a proud person—but no proud person thinks that! 

I’m realizing that I often do things to win the praise of man—not for God, even though that’s what really matters. I often do things simply to be praised by man. I struggle in thinking that I’m a better guy than I really am. Everyone says I’m a nice guy, and the majority is always correct, right? But what do they know? Does it really matter that those around me think I’m nice? The only thing that should matter is Jesus.

I’ve been realizing that it’s not by my talents that I accomplish things, but rather they have been given me to use until the Master returns. Everything I’ve every done is because Someone trusted me enough to use them to His honor. I had better not disappoint Him by taking all the credit. Seeking for the approval, applause and praise of man builds self up like an sand castle, ready to be swept away by the tide of this world. Pride is like a one way street, anything it is given never returns. Pride is the essence of selfishness. God help me remember that “the only thing that’s good in me is Jesus.”