Wisdom For Life: Humility and Self-Righteousness

A few years ago, a national survey asked respondents several questions regarding how they felt about Christians and the Church. 

 

Unfortunately, the opinions of many were quite negative! 

• 91% said Christianity had an anti-gay image.
• 87% said it was too judgmental.
• 85% claimed that the Church and Christians were hypocritical. 

 

The report was hard to read because the results were so negative. The very things Jesus warned us about have become an accepted part of the church in America!

 

One day Jesus told a story about a religious leader, a Pharisee, who came into the temple to pray. He made a big show of his efforts! He prayed out loud so everyone would know he was very spiritual. In his prayer, he thanked God that he was a good person and was nothing like a sinner standing nearby. In the story, Jesus contrasted this self-righteous leader with that sinner: 

 

His sin so broke him that he couldn’t raise his head, and he beat his chest as a sign of humility! 

 

His prayer was short and simple, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” (Luke 18:13)  

 

Jesus surprised everyone that day – when he finished the story, which was a contrast between a respected leader and a sinful tax collector, he commented that the sinner, a man rejected by everyone, was the more spiritual of the two. 

 

Here’s what Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself she be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

 

God values what is in our hearts! 

 

He is not impressed by a well-worded prayer or even religious acts of service – if one’s heart isn’t right with God, and there is no humility, good works and religious titles mean almost nothing to God!

 

Humility comes as we allow God to work in our lives. Open your heart to his influence and Word, and be alert to the self-righteousness that can separate us from God and others.  

 

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Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.