If you were to go out on the street and ask the question, “What sin does God hate the most?”, more than likely you would get a wide variety of answers. Many people would probably say that murder or stealing would be at the top of the list.

While Scripture does not definitively tell us which sin God hates the most, it does tell us that the sin of self-righteousness can have serious eternal consequences. In our passage today, we see Jesus talking to a crowd of self-righteous people.

The two symptoms of self-righteousness are trusting in yourself and despising others. While all have a tendency to trust in themselves, the worst thing you can trust in yourself for is your salvation. Eternal life comes through faith alone, in Christ alone. If you are trusting in yourself for salvation, you are not depending on His gift.

If you are trusting in yourself for everyday life, you will never get counsel. Going to the pastor or some godly friends for advice can give you an outsider’s perspective to your situation or decision. By relying solely on your own knowledge and refusing to get counsel, you will often end up making horrible mistakes.

Whether you are saved or unsaved, trusting in yourself is a very bad idea. You might end up messing up your financial future, or even worse, you could mess up your eternity. Don’t be guilty of the sin of trusting in yourself!