Luke chapter 18: Verses 9-14 (NLT Translation)
Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
It’s one thing to be confident, but quite another to be self-confident, and cocky too. The Pharisees were too self-confident, and in their own righteousness at that. The saddest thing of all they didn’t realise it, and the implications it had. That made me wonder who or what do I put my confidence in?
If we put our confidence in the wrong things then the more chance there is that we will be let down. Paul told the Ephesian Church, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take the credit for this; it is a gift from God.” (Ephesians 2:8 – NLT) That’s why we have no reason to think we are any better than anyone else, otherwise we are just the same as the Pharisees.
Dear Lord,
Help me not to rely on my abilities, remembering that even any that I do have are a gift given by You. I ask in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.