Wilderness Mentality #7
Here we go. Self-pity, self-worship, self-pity, self-worship, self-pity, self-worship.
One day, I am the best person ever, and the next day, I am the worst person ever. No, I take that back. One moment, no one could possibly touch my brilliance, and the next moment, I am not worthy to be the mud on the bottom of your boot.
I was in a Bible Study group at church and we talked about the "I am the worst possible sinner" mentality versus the "here, let me remove the plank from your eye" mentality. And you know what? Here is what I decided. Everything in moderation. It is a spectrum and we each fall someone along the line. Or maybe we're all like me and we jump all over the place, but we need to strive for a balance somewhere in the middle.
I need to recognize my sin, acknowledge it, repent of it, strive to do better, but not live in condemnation – ever. Live in the grace and mercy of forgiveness. But I need to do the exact same thing for others. I cannot condemn or judge, but treat them as forgiven creatures as well.
I found this chapter to be quite funny because it nailed me on the head. When I am in self-pity mode, I want everyone to know about it. I want your pity too. I want you to throw me the rope and try to pull me out of my well of pity. And boy will I resist.
I realize that it cannot possibly be the best way to attract friends. No one wants to hang out with Miss Miserable.
I know they prefer me as Miss Cheerful. But nobody tries to uplift a happy person. How selfish of me.
We're not supposed to focus inwardly. We're supposed to focus outwardly. When we all focus outwardly, everyone is taken care of.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
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