"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God I thank you that I am not like other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get'. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said 'God have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:10-14)
No-one is righteous. Not even one. Except God our Father. We are all sinners. We all need to behave in a way that places others before us. Pride vs Humility. I'll bank my money on humility any day of the week. The two words even look like extreme opposites. Pride kinda looks like a gossiping, scheming lion where as humility looks like a gentle, submissive lamb. The two words are actually used to describe both Satan and Christ in the bible. Satan as a prowling lion and Jesus as the saving, atoning lamb for all humanity.
This verse also highlights the religious attitude of the Pharisee. He is boasting about fasting twice a week and tithing. God does not desire sacrifice but a broken and contrite heart. The problem with comforting ourselves in "doing" things for God is that we become prideful and start "doing" ministry and not loving Jesus. I'm not sure about others but i've fallen into the trap where i'll comfort myself by checking off all the events, prayer meetings, praise practices and conferences I attended in a week to make myself a better "christian" than others. Man, I had to repent and we all should if we think in this way. We should not be measuring ourselves or people in the things they do or don't do, or attend and don't attend. Don't be like the religious pharisee. We should rather see them in the eyes of Jesus Christ and not by our own folly human eyes. Our role is not to judge, but to pray and love. Leave the judging to God and not a Pharisee.
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