Humility: Don't Show Off Your Good Deeds

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”   -Luke 18:9-14

Do you find yourself wanting to tell everyone about all the good things you’ve done for God? Do you feel uncomfortable when you don’t tell people about these things? In the parable above, we see that that’s a problem in God’s eyes.

One of the greatest qualities of Christians is humility. This means that we don’t seek out praise or acknowledgement. Oftentimes, it means our good deeds go unnoticed or unappreciated. Sometimes it means denying something that will make us look good, even if it seems like a good thing. But that’s what we are called to do.

If your pride or your insecurities make you flaunt your good deeds, pray about it and seek after God each day. The closer you get to him, the more your heart will be changed, and the less you will want to show off how great you are.