- Kerri S. Wilson
Rags to Riches

My dad recently shared this excerpt from a lesson he taught titled "The Sin of Self-Righteousness." He has given me permission to share it with you.
I may be self-righteous if …
I have a judgmental spirit.
I find it difficult to forgive.
I have a wrong sense of fairness.
I have an unscriptural view of success and failure.
I am smug about my relationship with God.
I pretend I don’t have weaknesses.
I think the world would be better if everyone was like me.
I assume the worst about people.
I hear a convicting sermon and wish others could hear it.
I am pleased if people are intimidated by me.
I think I am humble and I am proud of it.
I believe all the complimentary things said about me.
I want to be the center of attention.
I am easily offended.
I think I don’t need regular fellowship with the body of Christ.
I look down on others for any reason.
I boast of my spiritual exploits.
I see faults in others but fail to see my own faults.
I think Paul’s admonition to believers to examine themselves doesn’t apply to me.
I think I’m too spiritual to take this test.
~Rev. Simeon L. Young, Sr.
I took the test, and, to my dismay, I saw my own face in some of these characteristics. I was surprised to realize I'm more self-righteous than I'm willing to admit.
But I don't want to keep wearing these filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6). I want to be different. I want God to cover me with His righteousness (see Isaiah 61:10). I want God to change me. I want my life to be a rags to riches story.