All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.

Proverbs 16:2 (ESV)

Sometimes we like to do things our way. We hear phrases like, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Or maybe, “My way or the highway.” Both of those phrases have one thing in common: selfishness. That one sin branches out into so many other sins. God understands that, so in order to get rid of that selfishness, we must be held to a higher standard. That’s where God comes in.

If our standards are not compared to God’s standards, it will all seem right or pure. Sometimes we believe we can do no wrong. Our pride dictates our standards. God’s ways are above our ways. He knows our heart, so He can righteously judge our character. We must not act on charity for selfish reasons. We need to see things God’s way rather than through our own, limited perspective. If we follow Him, He will make our paths straight.

The good news is that we don’t have to rely on ourselves to determine what is right or wrong. We have a higher authority who is gracious and merciful to show us the right way to live. God has given us His word, so that we may not be led astray. He cares about us and looks out for us. The Bible is chock full of life applications that can help us be better people. More importantly, it shows us how to love. God’s perfect love and holiness is a standard we will never reach until we get to heaven because of our natural, sinful behavior. However, if we strive to do good in our Father’s eyes, He will look down on us with joy and receive us with open arms in heaven.

This week, pray about how you can follow God’s standards rather than your own. Look inside your heart and flush out all the selfish thoughts, so that you can glorify God, who loves us.