From a Biblical lens, introspection should be a hallmark of every believer. If we don’t take a step back and honestly assess ourselves from time to time, we do ourselves a great disservice. One challenge when we do this is maintaining an objective perspective. We’re our own harshest critics in some areas, while we cut ourselves too much slack in others. The only way to refine this process is by seeing how we align with scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If we consistently exercise discretion and seek Godly wisdom, that will ensure that we become more proficient over time (James 1:5-8, James 3:17). Of course, humility and God’s grace empower us to overcome the hurdles of our human nature. Our fallen nature is prone to justify sin and promote self-serving ends with no respect for God or others (Galatians 5:17). None of us is immune to these lines of thinking, but if we spend enough time with God through prayer and reading His Word, it will effectively renew our minds so that these tendencies don’t become such a prominent trap in our lives (Romans 12:2).
It may help under certain conditions to pursue the counsel of others. After all, if we’re to become less susceptible to subjective perceptions, balancing our observations with that of trusted people in our lives can assist us. When we reach out to people who have our best interests in mind, are trustworthy, and are willing to provide counsel, we essentially extricate a lot of our own bias. Granted, it may not be a one-size-fits-all solution, but it makes sense in many cases to consider this approach. A friend might save us a lot of trouble in a realistic assessment of where we are at and whether we are exhibiting the qualities of a Christian. In my mind, I might think I am not selfish, but my friend can tell me that I am prone to make selfish decisions. They could advise that it may stem from being an only child or perhaps not having many responsibilities. Such insight would give me new evidence to consider. Wisdom of this nature becomes more valid when provided by many counselors, as the Bible advocates for in Proverbs (Proverbs 11:14).
Let’s consider a second scenario. I might be under the impression that I am good at cycling. Perhaps I think myself among the top 10-20% of cyclists. However, I can quickly remedy any illusions of grandeur by doing some research online and making some basic comparisons with people who are passionate about the sport. For example, let’s assume I cannot maintain a ~20mph pace for over an hour. I may perceive that I am better than I am in this scenario because I zoom by all sorts of cyclists in my daily ride. However, after a few minutes of looking into Youtube and reading a few articles on cycling, I realize that many people can sustain such speeds for several hours across 100+ kilometers. Suddenly I can determine I am not nearly as good as I might have initially assessed.
Embracing this reality doesn’t need to discourage me and provides an objective view of how I can improve. Now I realize where I am and set new goals based on where I want to be. If you think you’re already among the best, you’ll get complacent before you even start to obtain excellence in your work. I rather know that I am an average cyclist and see where I stand than buy into the illusion that I am better without any concrete basis.
A similar approach can benefit us as Christians regarding our walk with Jesus Christ. When we know our strengths and weaknesses, we can learn where we might need to channel more of our attention. Giving or receiving this kind of constructive criticism is not always easy. If we solicit a family member or friend’s advice, we must exercise caution to protect that relationship. However, it may be an excellent strategy if we don’t think we can be objective exclusively through our reflection. Don’t allow your weaknesses to define who you are. We find value in our identity in Jesus Christ, not our abilities or character. We all have at least a few areas to improve and many battles to fight, so we should all aim to be as humble as possible and build up others along the way (Ephesians 4:29).
The Fruit of the Spirit is a vital resource we use like we would a physical mirror (Galatians 5:22-23). Are you reflecting kindness, gentleness, goodness, love, joy, peace, self-control, long-suffering, and faithfulness in your life? Perhaps it’s easy for us to exercise some or even most of these traits under optimal conditions. But does that remain true when life gets more complicated, stressful, or challenging? These are the type of standards we should consider when pondering what it means for us to be successful. After all, do you want to be successful in the eyes of the world or God? The world correlates your value with income, beauty, accolades, intellect, and other metrics often subjective, flawed, or superficial. However, in the eyes of God, much of our success is based on whether we bring Him glory. We acknowledge that all the gifts, talents, resources, and beauty we may possess are God-given. Therefore, believers should rest in God’s sovereignty and serve Him with everything they have (Psalm 37:7, Colossians 3:23-24).
We need to pursue what God values instead of what the world does. The fleeting lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life the world offers are not of God (1 John 2:16, Galatians 5:17-21). Instead, we need to love God and our neighbors as ourselves. These are the two greatest commandments, and if we execute each of these effectively, every other command is addressed by extension (Matthew 22:36-40). If we truly love God, we won’t yield to sin but rather strive for holy conduct by abiding in God (John 15:4-11). If we genuinely love our neighbors as ourselves, and by extension, everyone else on earth in consideration of the big picture, that means we love even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48)! Indeed, these are simple concepts to grasp but much harder to put into practice.
The world and its evil allures are all dead-end roads. There’s no amount of money, power, or fame that will lead you to true satisfaction. The only One who can truly satisfy you, and give you an eternally valuable assignment in this life, is Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must learn to serve God, not money, and live for eternity rather than our best life now (Matthew 6:24). We should learn to make sacrifices that pay dividends later rather than succumb to instant gratification.
If you are a child of God, He will mold your character and shape you into the person He wants you to become. When we are willing vessels, open and ready to serve Him diligently, He will assign us with a purpose for our life here on earth (2 Timothy 2:20-21). Being a child of God engages a desire in us to obtain Godly character to share the Gospel with the lost, fellowship with other believers, and potentially disciple others to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ. When we sow in these areas, we’ll reap many blessings, but they’ll be infinitely more apparent later (Galatians 6:9). Take heart that the more you willingly submit to God, the more areas you will enjoy His providence. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need further motivation beyond that to be all-in for God’s glory. I pray that you will embrace the same mission.
