prideful heart

Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
" 'I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. - Matthew 11:9-12 (NIV)

This passage can be confusing at first, but this is an excerpt from a commentary:

"Because such greatness is not dependent on us but on the roles God has assigned us, we must do his will humbly, seeking his honor alone. The least in the kingdom is greater than John in the sense that anyone in the kingdom has a fuller message than those who spoke beforehand. In another sense of the phrase, the least in the kingdom may also be the greatest in the kingdom, because God will evaluate us according to our faithfulness in deferring all honor to him rather than to ourselves (18:1-4)." IVP New Testament Commentary

I have been thinking about this a lot lately and recently came across this piece of scripture. I feel sometimes that I seek to be a "righteous" man for my own sake. Like for instance, usually if we pray as a leadership I don't want to say anything out loud. This is because I don't want to say anything just to say something. I would not want to just pray for the reason that other people hear me. The Holy Spirit should be the only way and reason that I am praying. Which is why I consistently ask God to make me less and Jesus more. If I allowed more of Jesus to come through me and make him more evident and me less, I would not be as prideful or seek my personal interests. I would be more in sync with the Holy Spirit and thus, the will of God.

Like in this passage, I must come to a place where I no longer am seeking righteousness for my advancement or to change me, but for the kingdom of God to be changed. I must seek his honor and his only. There should be no motive in our hearts to satisfy others more than our motive to fulfill God's mission and to bring his kingdom. The last sentence in the excerpt above is really humbling. To know that God will evaluate us according to how we give honor. Do we give it to God alone, or do we still try and seek our own honor?