Two Opposite Traps, One Root: Self Versus Christ

Ellen White treats these two problems as one root disease: both keep the eyes on self instead of on Christ, and the cure for both is to come to Him just as we are, pleading only our need.8MR 221.1+2

The proud person says, "I'm good enough." The discouraged person says, "I'm too bad." Both are still measuring themselves by themselves, and both stay away from the only One who can help.RH Feb 28, 1907+1

🪞 Problem one: "I'm fine, I don't need Him"

The first danger is feeling whole. The Pharisees trusted their good works and felt they were well enough off without Christ.4T 42.2–43.1

God loves the children of Bro. D, but they are in fearful danger of feeling whole, and in no need of a physician. Trusting in their own righteousness will never save them. They must feel the need of a Saviour. … The Pharisees, who felt that they were righteous, and who trusted in their good works, felt no need of a Saviour. They felt that they were well enough off without Christ. — Ellen G. White, 4T 42.2–43.1 (1881)

Such a person cannot receive anything, because he feels no need. He thinks he is already full.5T 438.1

But he that in his own eyes is rich, and honorable, and righteous, who sees as the world sees, and calls evil good and good evil, cannot ask and receive, because he feels no need. He feels that he is full; therefore he must go away empty. — Ellen G. White, 5T 438.1 (1889)

Christ's grace does nothing for the person who thinks he is reasonably good.ST Jul 4, 1911

The grace and righteousness of Christ will not avail for him who feels whole, for him who thinks he is reasonably good, who is contented with his own condition. There is no room for Christ in the heart of him who does not realize his need of divine light and aid. Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." — Unknown author, ST Jul 4, 1911

They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick… I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:12-13

🌧️ Problem two: "I'm too unworthy to come"

The second danger looks like humility, but it is a trap too. In an early vision an angel told Ellen White that Satan leads people to keep looking at their own unworthiness.8MR 221.1

The angel said, “Some tried too hard to believe. Faith is so simple. Ye look above it. Satan has deceived some and got them to looking at their own unworthiness.” I saw they must look away from self to the worthiness of Jesus, and throw themselves, just as they are, needy, dependent, upon His mercy, and draw by faith, strength and nourishment from Him.—Manuscript 8, 1850, p 1. (“Vision of August 24, 1850.”) — Ellen G. White, 8MR 221.1 (1850)

She also warned against treating your own unworthiness as if it were a virtue. Your sinfulness is meant to be the very reason you come to the Saviour, whose worthiness becomes your righteousness.Ms 21, 1889, par. 21–24

When we look at the cross of Calvary, we will not exalt self, but keep constantly in view our unworthiness and how much our salvation cost heaven; we will discern Christ’s matchless love. Many allow their minds to dwell upon their unworthiness as though this was a virtue. — Ellen G. White Estate & Ellen G. White, Ms 21, 1889, par. 21–24

She wrote to one discouraged believer: don't keep your eyes on yourself, trying to improve first or doubting God's mercy. Come as you are, and do nothing great to recommend yourself. Discouragement and despair are the enemy's work.Lt 36, 1875, par. 4–5 She told a sister troubled by an anxious conscience that Satan was tempting her to write little things against herself. Satan is the liar and the accuser of the brethren.Lt 37, 1886, par. 4 Revelation 12:10

💡 Why they are really the same problem

Both pictures keep self at the centre. One person trusts his goodness, the other is shut out by his badness. Either way, my condition decides whether I come.DA 316.4–317.1+1 The truth is that our need is our only claim on God's mercy.DA 316.4–317.1

They did not recognize that our great need is our only claim on God’s mercy. … He saw his own unworthiness; yet he feared not to ask help. He trusted not to his own goodness; his argument was his great need. … “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.”^¹ When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and cannot hope to receive blessing from God, tell him that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition, that makes His redeeming power a necessity. ^¹ Titus 3:5.— Ellen G. White, DA 316.4–317.1 (1898)

The centurion shows the right balance. He knew he was not worthy, yet he still asked for help Luke 7:6-7.DA 316.4–317.1

Feelings are not the test either way. Joy doesn't prove we are accepted, and gloom doesn't prove God has left us. God's Word decides where we stand.RH Feb 28, 1907

When they are happy and joyous, they think that they are accepted by God. When a change comes, and they feel depressed, they think that God has forsaken them. God does not look with favor upon those self-confident ones who loudly exclaim, “I am sanctified, I am holy, I am sinless.” These are Pharisees, who have no foundation for their assertion. But those who, because of their sense of utter unworthiness, dare scarcely lift up their eyes to heaven, are nearer to God than those who claim so much piety. They are represented by the publican, who, with his head on his breast, prayed, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” and went to his house justified, rather than the self-righteous Pharisee. — Ellen G. White, RH Feb 28, 1907

Right after that contrast, she shuts the door on distrust too:RH May 21, 1908

But God does not desire us to go through life with a distrust of him. We owe our Heavenly Father a more generous view of his goodness than is accorded to him by our manifest distrust of his love. … While we were yet sinners, God gave his Son to die for us. Can we doubt his goodness? — Ellen G. White, RH May 21, 1908

🧥 A homely picture

Other writers in our papers put it in simple stories. An old Review tells of a slave named Sam and his master. Both were convicted the same night. Sam threw his ragged blanket away at once. His master kept patching his "good coat."RH Oct 2, 1866

But massa hab on a real good coat and he did not like to trow dat away, for he thought if it was fixed up a little it would do to go ’fore God; so when he sees a dirty spot he says, ‘Oh, I’ll wash dat!’ and when he sees a hole he says, ‘Oh, I’ll patch dat!’ and so he goes on, trying to make his old coat do; but it neber will, for God won’t receive massa in dat coat, no matter how much he fix it up. But if massa will only trow dat coat away, and let God put de robe of Christ’s righteousness on him, den massa can go in ’fore God and not be ’fraid, but be happy like poor, bad Sam.” — Unknown author, RH Oct 2, 1866

The coat can be our own goodness, or our endless efforts to make ourselves fit before we come. Either one has to be thrown away.Lt 36, 1875, par. 4–5+1 H. A. St. John adds that a deep sense of unworthiness is needed to come to Christ, but no one is truly too unworthy to come.RH Jul 30, 1872 A Signs lesson points out that the same false idea, that God accepts us for what we do, produces both the critical church member and the despairing one who says, "I can't have any hope for myself."ST Mar 26, 1894

✝️ The cure for both

• Fall on the Rock. Feel your need of the Physician and of His blood, the one remedy.ST Jan 11, 1883+1
• Look at Christ, not at self. Seeing His loveliness brings true humility without despair.Ms 21, 1889, par. 21–24+1
• Come just as you are. The pitying Saviour receives those who rely on His righteousness and not their own merits.4T 42.2–43.1+1

Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37

The Pharisee is too full to receive, and the despairing soul is too afraid to receive, but the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner," is the right place for both of them.RH Feb 28, 1907+1 Luke 18:13-14