“Self-awareness becomes damaging when the focus is on our righteousness. When we’re caught up in our own goodness, living a self-congratulatory existence. But self-awareness fixates on our deeds and exaggerates our spiritual growth.”- Rich Villodas
“While [Jesus] was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them.”- John 2:23-24 (NIV)
As Rich Villodas moves on in Chapter 3 of The Narrow Path, he talks about good self-awareness versus bad self-awareness. Good self-awareness, Rich states:
- sees areas of our lives that constrain us.
- helps us name the forces that keep us from living free, full, and loving lives.
- focuses on our reactions and triggers.
- reflects on the things we’ve done and the things left undone.
- leads to humility and invites us into a process of growth.
Therefore, Jesus calls us to examine the ground from which our good deeds grow. Hence, Jesus never leads us into a scrupulous spirituality that causes us to agonize over every decision.
Certainly, Jesus doesn’t find that all recognition and reward conflict with life in the kingdom. Instead, He clarifies that living for these things is folly. Because applause and social media likes fade quickly. Thus, we need to fill our hearts with the affirming word of the Father. In addition, Ron Rolheiser once explained how to follow the example of Jesus:
“Ordinary life can be enough for us, but only if we first undergo the martyrdom of obscurity and enter Christ’s hidden life.”
Consequently, the hidden life provides freedom from the shallow praise of the world. However, Pastor Villodas cautions, social media creates an illusion. Social media convinces us that we can know all things, be everywhere, and use our words for the sake of power.
This seductive lie, like serpent’s claim in the Garden of Eden, suggests that we can be like God. Omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.
Today’s question: What Bible verses most help you avoid a self-congratulatory existence? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The locus of God’s presence”