Self-Pity

Today’s devotional is based on the subject of self-pity. But this is not a study devoted to pointing out other people’s sin. After all, people whom we judge to be caught in self-pity may actually have clinical depression or other valid sorrows. God does not view their sadness as self-pity, nor does He call it sin. Let’s make the study today more about examining ourselves rather than looking at others. Or if we see someone in distress, how about engaging them with concern and care? They may need a listening, trustworthy friend.

All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him.

1 John 5:17-18 (WEB)

Have you ever known a professing believer who is filled with self-pity? It’s hard to be around someone like that for extended periods of time. Their demeanor tends to pull everyone around them into their world of negativity.

This study is not an attack on anyone caught in any habitual sin. That would be judgment, which is also a sin.

Hopefully, this will be an encouragement for each of us in one of two ways. Either we will see ourselves and go to our Lord for His gracious help, or we will help someone we know who is caught in this trap, to see their way out—through the Spirit and the power of the Cross.

Weeping Willow

I would venture to say that most believers have allowed themselves to be stuck at times in the mire of self-pity. Believe it or not, self-pity is a symptom of selfishness and sinful pride.

Pride is the sin that Lucifer indulged in. His prideful arrogance led him to want God’s place. Pride is one of his chief tools used to aid us in ruining our lives by convincing us to doubt God. This sin also causes harm to others and most importantly, to dishonor God.

Let’s take a look at a Bible character whose dip into the sea of self-pity got her a loving reprimand from Jesus.

Martha

I bet we all remember her story from Sunday School. We know that she was the sister of Mary and Lazarus. Jesus brought him back to life after being dead four days.

There are other details about Martha’s life plainly found in scripture. She and her family loved Jesus both as a friend and as their Savior and Lord.

Martha strikes me as being a busy, no-nonsense kind of person. I bet she was the sort of woman who my daughter would describe as having had no “OFF” button. Probably, Martha had a sincere desire to serve others.

The problem is, this attribute can become sinful. Selfishness, jealousy and pride are the hallmarks of this avoidable personality flaw.

When believers fall into this sinful pattern, it makes their God given gift unappealing to the world and to other believers.

Think about someone who has the spiritual gift of serving others. When they fall into sinful habits their spiritual gift becomes off-putting. They are consumed by letting everyone know how hard they are working or how others have mistreated them.

Life can become uncomfortable. Everyone feels like they are walking on eggshells, and the disgruntled party actually blames the very people they are serving.

Haven’t you noticed that people caught in selfish sins are quick to make remarks, like, “Why are you being so sensitive?”

I can imagine that Martha had plenty of those moments.

But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.” Luke 10:40 (WEB)

So, while the believer is using their spiritual gift of service, they are undoing it all by making people feel badly for just being in the same room.

Self-pity, like Martha experienced, demands attention and accolades for a job well done. But all this sinful attitude does is alienate others. It doesn’t reflect Jesus.

Sin always separates believers from God. That is why we must keep confess known sin and be devoted to our walk with Christ.

Where is Jesus in all of this? He is patiently working in a believer’s life to bring them back to the right place. (Job 23:10)

Restoration

Jesus’ love for her is revealed in how He addresses Martha in her weakness. 

Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, Luke 10:41 (WEB)

Can’t you just picture Jesus, with a warmth in His voice and a desire for her to let the worries and trivialities of life just go?

Jesus would never have made her feel like a failure. That would not have given Him the opportunity to rob the sin that was ruining her day.

If you are a child of God feeling stuck in self-pity, there is a Helper ready to guide you out of that harmful cage of sin.

He wanted her to see what Mary saw. The Savior of the world was a visitor in her house. And He was there to share His wonderful plan for everyone there.

Jesus told Martha, “One thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:42 (WEB)

The next time Jesus visited with Mary and Martha was four days after the death of Lazarus. In this passage we saw a distinctly different Martha.

The Way Out

Even though she was undoubtedly grieving over the loss of her brother, Martha had not lost faith in Jesus. His loving reprimand did not push her away. Instead, she greeted Jesus as He entered Bethany.

Martha, full of faith, tells Jesus that Lazarus would not have died if He had gotten there sooner.

Therefore, Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” John 11:21-22 (WEB)

Read Martha’s statement of faith in (John 11:25-27)

Just for context, re-read the story of Lazarus beginning in John 11.

Share the Good News in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.