Haughty and Naughty

One of the many blessings Jesus gave us during His time here on Earth was a multitude of parables.  These parables are tremendous story lessons that paint a perfect picture of the messages He wanted to convey to us. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector found in the Gospel of Luke is a short tale but one that impacts all of us throughout our lives.  It’s a great reminder to each of us, not only that we must accept our differences, but that, despite those differences, we are all equals in God’s eyes.  It also serves as a stark reprimand to be careful in our pride that we don’t use those differences to place ourselves on too high a pedestal. 

In this parable, Jesus relates the story of how two men, from very different stations in life, approach prayer.  One, a Pharisee, uses prayer to thank God for not making him like so many others who, for a variety of reasons in his eyes, don’t measure up to his stature.  The other man, a reviled tax collector, ignores everyone else and comes humbly before God, afraid to even look to Heaven, beating his breast in frustration, acknowledging his sinful ways and begging for mercy upon his undeserving soul.  Jesus then reminds His audience to live their lives in much the same way the tax collector prays, for “all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” 

Let’s face facts.  Competition is a part of life as much as it is a part of sports.  Trying to remove it completely from either one sounds like a noble cause, but ultimately breeds a watered-down version of both.  On a daily basis competition can take many forms, and can sometimes be constructive; but in our spiritual life we are sinful and wasteful if we constantly occupy ourselves with thoughts of how much better we are than others.  Our salvation cannot be justified simply by comparing ourselves to our neighbors.  These comparisons are destructive to the life God designed for us.  Grace is freely given by God to ALL his children and none of us is more or less deserving, or more or less loved.  We are all His sons and daughters. We are all His friends. Consequently, we are all friends and brothers and sisters.  And He asks us to love one another as He has loved us regardless of our differences. Let’s not make the mistake of placing our lives into our own hands.  And lets not waste our time and God’s time praying misguided words of thanks for what we aren’t.  Be humble and not proud.  Always remember our true station in the universe, for it is by no power of our own, but only by the truth of the cross, that we are truly redeemed.