“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:10–14, ESV
Have you ever felt looked down upon? Like you were not worth anything? I think most of us can relate. I know I have always struggled with this. For a time, I put on an air of confidence and would be what many used to call “cocky.” This was a way of protecting myself and acting as though the negative things people were saying about me didn’t bother me. I think that there are many like this in the world. There are those that like to tear down others in order to build themselves up, like the Pharisee that Jesus describes. It’s easy to do, isn’t it? This, however, is not how God sees. This doesn’t mean we should tear ourselves down and not feel good about the accomplishments in our lives. False humility is just as bad as arrogance and cockiness. God desires us to celebrate all that He does within our lives while at the same time walking in the realization of our need for salvation. We all have sin in our lives. We are unable to take care of our sin on our own. We only can confess our sins known and unknown, and trust that our Lord forgives. At the same time, we can stand in confidence, knowing that our Lord has forgiven us and that we are meant to do great things for His glory. Nothing we do is to be done at the expense of another. Advancement is not achieved by stepping on another and putting them under our heel. The words we speak are meant to be healing, and when we call out another in sin, it is not meant to curse them but to call them to the Lord and pray for their restoration. We are simply one beggar telling another where they can find help and restoration. One beggar helping another out of the ditch that we find ourselves in. In humility, we carry the hope of eternal life.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.