Tests for True Righteousness - 1 (Matthew 7: P 16)

We have come to the last several verses in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5 - 7.  The sermon, this teaching from Jesus, is all about life in the kingdom of heaven; about how citizens of the kingdom of heaven behave and think; about what true righteousness looks like.  For Matthew 7: 13 - 29, let's use the umbrella of "True Righteousness is Proved" as the theme for these verses.  How do we test to see if our righteousness is true or false?  What is the measuring rod to determine genuineness?  Well, Jesus tells us.

Today, read Matthew 7: 13 - 14.  It is a very short reading to consider ... but the ramifications are eternal!

What is the first way we can test our own righteousness - to see if it is true and genuine?  The first litmus test is:  is my righteousness marked by self - denial or self-centeredness?

The wide gate ... the broad path ... is the path of self.  Many find it ... many choose it.  It is more comfortable.  It is easier.  It seems wise.  After all, "if you don't look out for numero uno, who will?" - right?Consider:

• self-sufficiency
• self-confidence
• self-dependent
• self-esteem
• self-centered
• self-made
• self-righteous
• self-ish
• self ... self ... self ... self ... 

Where is God in all this worldly wisdom?  And therein lies the major problem ... the "self" person just doesn't really need God.  There is no dependence.  There is no humility.  All this worldly wisdom violates the very first "blessed" with which Jesus began his description of the citizens of his kingdom ... "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

Warning?  Be careful about assuming that the wisdom from the world is the same as wisdom from God.  The wide road of self-focus leads to death.  Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 1: 18 - 30:  (from those verses)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  ... Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was please through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ... For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. ... But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise ... so that no one may boast before him.

The small gate ... the narrow path ... is the path of self-denial.  It is the path chosen by Jesus himself.  It is the call he places on every life that chooses faith in him.  It is the life of true righteousness because it is the life of Jesus.  Paul wrote to believers in Philippi about their attitudes - their view of themselves in Philippians 2: 5 - 11.  We have a strong need to heed these words as well:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!  

Jesus described this narrow path in Luke 9:23 - 24 when he said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

So the question we all must ask ourselves is:  Which road are you on?  

Lord, God ... you are all wisdom.  Open our eyes to see when we are more consumed with self than with You.  Help us know when our confidence and esteem comes more from self than from our relationship with You.  It is You who have made us ... and not we ourselves.  Today ... may my focus be on You ... live Your life through me.