How very welcome and commendable, in ourselves and others, is the humble attitude that seeks to know what one needs to do to change for the better! A sincere desire to correct one's deficiencies, even if unspoken, is usually evidenced in one's demeanor and way of life.
On the other hand, how unwelcome and unpraiseworthy is the self-deluding opposite attitude: "I did it. That makes it right!" Unwillingness to alter whatever needs to be changed is oftentimes a deterrent to progress. Pride and rigidity block the detecting and correcting of erroneous tendencies.
The rich young man in the Gospel account assured Jesus that he had kept the enumerated commandments "from my youth up," and then he added the query, "What lack I yet?"Matt. 19:20; When Christ Jesus pointed out to him the regenerating act he should undertake—sell all his possessions and give to the poor—the young man left dejected, not able to relinquish his dependence on material belongings and follow the Master. There was still this one thing he was unwilling to change in himself.
