Envy, Selfishness and the Love of Praise: Three Quiet Failures
Drawn from the teaching of Professor Gary S. Maxey · 2 min read
Open sin is easy to name. Professor Gary Maxey spends equal time on the quiet failures. In his book on the Highway of Holiness, he describes what the Holy Spirit tends to expose in a believer's heart once he is willing to be searched. Pride and anger get the most attention, but he lists more.
Envy and jealousy
He says when the Spirit shines his light, envy and jealousy appear. The cleansed heart looks different. Instead of envy there is a spirit in which others are honored, and those better than I am are loved and honored. A person who has this spirit does not feel slighted when others are preferred. He supports and rejoices in their promotion.
Selfishness
Self-centeredness also comes to light. In its place, he writes, comes generosity and self-denial. He describes sharing resources with those in need even when it means doing without comforts. He adds an honest detail. Such a person may find himself wishing he had more, but only so he could give more.
Deceit
He names deceitfulness as another thing the Spirit reveals. The alternative is openness and honesty. He describes a person who does not hide or disguise things, and does not lead others to wrong conclusions without technically lying. He says a cleansed heart loves transparency.
Love of praise
Finally there is the love of praise. Everyone would rather be appreciated than despised, Professor Maxey admits. But the person purified in heart no longer craves the praise of others and is clothed with genuine humility.
The caution
Professor Maxey says these lists are not a checklist for earning holiness. They describe what the Holy Spirit does. The light is shone so that the Spirit can then purify.
A week of attention
Choose one of the four, envy, selfishness, deceit or love of praise. For one week, notice each time it appears. Do not fight it. Simply say to God, "That was it. I do not want it." Then record on paper how many times you saw it. The number tells you something.
Drawn from the teaching of Professor Gary S. Maxey.
