Many books, movies, self-help gurus, and even the late great Frank Sinatra have urged us to be proud of who we are, especially so that at the end of life’s journey we can to say with satisfaction “I did it my way.” But there is little that is Christian about that phrase and it represents a destructive form of pride (listed among the seven deadly sins) that we have to keep in check. The more good we think we have done, the more we want to be seen in the limelight and recognized by others, and the more we can be tempted to be proud, instead of humble.
Luke 17, 7-10 calls for a less self-affirming approach and for a greater modesty about our achievements. Jesus warns against that tendency to be too full of ourselves when He declares, “When you have done all you ought to do, say, ‘we are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.’”
The truth is that no matter how well we live, no matter how much we think we have achieved (or merited), the grace of God remains a free gift. The Good News is that we don’t need our own merits in order to have God’s favor. God loves us unconditionally and shows us His love by giving us His Son. In response to love, we try to serve faithfully and seek His will, as we discern it. Our service of God is simply the right thing to do, following our best human impulses. And, by the way, wouldn’t it be delightful to arrive at the end of life’s journey and say, “I did it God’s way?”
