I spent my youth trying to fill the family room shelves with trophies that validated my athletic prowess.

My school years were spent less in quest of an education than in securing academic accolades that could be mounted on the wall next to those trophies.

And much of my post-academic life was spent in pursuit of dis-ordered priorities – lusting for a bigger house, a fancier car and glorification as an astute businessman.

I have documented my struggles with pride in several posts. Whatever success I had in satisfying my lusts I attributed to my smarts, my diligence and my competence.

I am certainly not proud of that thought process. Since my bible studies began in earnest more than a decade ago, my perspective has shifted rather dramatically.

“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

1 Corinthians 4:7

Instinctively, I always knew that whatever gifts I had were given by God. But I was too caught up in the adulation that was directed my way to give the credit to Him. Instead of glorifying God for His love and generosity, I sucked all of it up to satisfy my own ego – frequently with false humility.

The fact is that I have achieved nothing on my own. I have nothing that was not given to me by God. There is nothing that is worthy of boasting. To the contrary, I have much – my pride being at the top of the list – for which I must repent. Thankfully, the greatest gift God has given to each of us is His mercy and His grace.

I invite and encourage readers to listen to this song by the Christian band Casting Crowns – a beautiful expression of the fact that there is but one thing that matters. It is not a trophy. It is not a legacy. It is Christ alone.

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

1 Timothy 6:7