我們繼續來思想詩篇七十三篇帶給我們的信息。我們留意詩人的態度，他毫不猶疑地講述關於自己的事情。正如我們所看到，他承認自己的腳幾乎滑倒，他幾乎失去信心。我發覺詩人的誠實既給人鼓勵，又能振奮人心，不像今天教會裡有很多偽裝的人。鍾馬田博士（DrMartynLloyd-Jones）在一次講道時提到：「在我們的屬靈生命裡，有些人總是想要給人一種永遠走在高峰的印象，沒有甚麼比遇到這種人更令人感到沮喪。」我非常同意他的話。

你知道嗎？我們必須誠實地表現自己，不要扮作從沒有被難題困擾，這一點非常重要。如果你真的沒有困擾，那很好；但如果你有這種感受就應該勇於承認。然而坦誠開放的態度會不會變成一種表現慾？是有這個可能。有些人承認自己的失敗，目的是要吸引別人的注意。但我不相信這是詩人的動機，因為他寫這首詩，很明顯不是為了榮耀自己，而是為了榮耀神。

通往屬靈成長的道路，是從我們誠實地面對自己內心的掙扎開始。如果我們那麼注重建立或保持快樂，以致忽略自己內心的負面感受，或者假裝這種感受不存在的話，結果只會貶低自己的人格。誠實外表的背後可能包含了內心的掙扎，但這比偽裝或否認更能帶來生命的成長。

We continue looking at the attitude of the psalmist, who does not hesitate to tell the truth about himself. As we saw, he admits that his feet had well-nigh slipped and his faith had almost gone. I find the psalmist's honesty both stimulating and refreshing, especially when compared to the tendency of many in today's Church to pretend that things are not as they are. Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones said in one of his sermons: "I know of nothing in the spiritual life more discouraging than to meet the kind of person who seems to give the impression that he or she is always walking on the mountain top." I agree.

You see, it is far more important to be honest than to appear to be the sort of person who is never thrown by problems. If you are not thrown, then fine, but if you are then admit it. But can't openness be a form of exhibitionism? Yes, it can. Some people may confess to failure as a means of drawing attention to themselves. But I do not believe that this was the psalmist's motive, for quite clearly he wrote the psalm to glorify not himself but God.

The pathway to spiritual growth begins when we realistically and honestly face up to the struggles that are going on inside us. If we are so concerned about developing or preserving pleasant feelings that we ignore the negative feelings within us or pretend that they are non-existent, then we end up demeaning ourselves. An honest look may involve a struggle, but there is more hope in that for growth than there is in pretence or denial.