Do you feel sorry for those who feel sorry for themselves? By logic this shouldn’t be necessary, since they already have this task completely covered, but your instincts are correct to have pity on those who are mired in self-pity. This is a miserable condition that is not useful for them or anyone else. Does it seem a great burden to lay down your life, and pick up your cross, and follow me? Yet dying to yourself implies that self-pity is no longer an option for you and in this I am doing you a favor.

Are you easy to classify on the basis of your beliefs? Do you think that Christians have a certain set of predetermined political positions that you signed up for when you committed yourself to me? Beware of those who know the answers before the questions are asked, and of those who would pressure you to recruit you to their cause. My word leaves the door open for everyone to consult his own conscience on some issues and be fully persuaded in his own mind. Hold your political opinions with a loose grip. Paul was willing to become all things to all people that some might be saved.

Have you ever heard someone receiving recognition saying that they are humbled and honored? This is a commonplace phrase, but does it occur to you that these are opposite concepts? How is it that they are so often used together? Is it reasonable to think that both could occur together? If you follow me you may find yourself performing some exploits along the way. If people notice and commend you it is an opportunity for you to say that the credit is due to me. What do you have that you did not receive?

Bill Gothard teaches that anger is an inner alarm signal of rights I have not laid down, or if I did, I picked them back up again. I remember getting angry years ago when I was pastoring a church which was experiencing division. My reputation was being ruined by people gossiping and spreading untruths about me to people who had never even met me. The listeners would then take up a reproach against me, even though they had never connected even once with me. How unfair. I was ready to get angry.