The Bible says that our core problem, the fundamental reason we do what we do, is sin.

When your sin is exposed, you will run toward confession and forgiveness or self-righteousness and self-justification.

Harboring bitterness against people is actually confessing their sin to myself, over and over again. Anger is akin to confessing their sin to God, dissatisfied that he hasn't done something and placing myself in his position as judge.

When Christ is my hope, he becomes the one thing in which I have confidence. I act on his wisdom and bank on his grace. I trust his promises and I rely on his presence. And I pursue all the good things that he has promised me simply because I trust him. So, I am not manipulating, controlling, or threatening my way through life to get what I want, because I have found what I want in Christ. He is my hope.

We rarely do anything with on single motive.

We must not offer people a system of redemption, a set of insights and principles. We offer people a Redeemer.

Our sin is what separates us from God, but it's our self righteousness that keeps us from running to Him for the grace He willingly gives to all who come.