When Your Religion Becomes Self-Serving

Let me ask you a question. If God’s grace not only forgives you but also empowers you to be part of something far greater than yourself, why settle for crawling back to your tiny little kingdom of one? Let’s wake up and start living for a kingdom that truly lasts.

Your spiritual life is about movement, growth, inner motivation, kingdoms, conquest, and warfare. Yet sadly, many live a diminished, surface-level version of Christianity. You could read your Bible daily and even finish it every year, yet still live for yourself. You could attend every Sunday service and every midweek group, yet still build your own small self-centered kingdom. You could give generously to the offering plate each week, hold a PhD in theology, or serve the poor and needy, and still be consumed with your own desires, feelings, and selfish motivation.

The truth is, we can do all of these good things and still have our life’s trajectory aimed toward self rather than the kingdom of God. If you want an example from Scripture of people living for their own little kingdoms instead of God’s, look no further than the Pharisees. They were experts in public displays of religion meant to impress others and build their own egos, rather than being truly devoted to the glory of God.

In Matthew 23:13, Jesus says:

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.”

He continues in Matthew 23:23-24:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

Jesus spoke so strongly to the Pharisees because they had polluted the very religion God had created to lead people into hearts of love, faith, hope, and service. They made it all about themselves.

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In Matthew 23:25-26, He also said:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.”

This makes a powerful illustration—hold up a cup that looks pristine on the outside, hiding something filthy inside. Just because the outside appears clean, who would want to drink it? God does not want an empty religion that has the appearance of being good but is rotten within.

God calls us to clean the inside first—our hearts and motives—so that goodness, truth, and beauty flow outward for all to see. Naturally producing fruit from the Spirit of God rather than artificially produced imitation that only deceives others. And sometimes, even ourselves. Throughout Scripture, we see people who knew the law, memorized passages, and practiced religion faithfully, yet their hearts were far from God. The Pharisees were prime examples, and Jesus called them hypocrites and blind guides—not to insult them, but to expose the deep corruption in their hearts.

We must guard ourselves from being content with outward displays of religion just to impress people. Instead, we should ask God for a heart overflowing with love and gratitude for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Let’s live for a kingdom that will outlast and overshadow every small kingdom we try to build for ourselves.

True Christianity—true faith—is about submitting our hearts to the Creator and Redeemer of the universe. Only God’s grace can produce that kind of life. Always remember, for Him to be your Master, you MUST be His servant!

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