"And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Romans 6:13)
An energetic public show to appear blameless is not a Christian ideal, it's posing. To expend energy in the active pursuit of righteousness (a heart matter), while confident in Christ's righteousness, is to "present your members as instruments of righteousness to God".
Hunger and thirst after righteousness in many instances could require outward actions that are not pleasing as a public show. The pursuit of righteousness is not only to avoid that which appears wrong, but to seek that which is right and that often contrasts sharply to the cheers elicited by public showmanship.
No matter how a true Christ follower appears in a public show of 'good' works, they are alive from the death of dead works, but it should never be about a public show. It is, among other things, a desire for the cheers of a crowd that are instruments of unrighteousness.
When the apostle Paul called himself the "least of all saints" (Ephesians 3:8), or when anyone else does, it is not necessarily always false humility. It can simply be an honest statement of self-estimation when compared to the high unyielding standard of Christ, while assured of His deep, saving love.
