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.