“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise 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, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 18:10-14.
It appears it is human nature to want to be better than average and better than others. Apparently we often think we are doing better than others when we really are not. Researchers at Northwestern, Duke, and Harvard universities conducted a study asking investors how their portfolios performed as compared to the Standard & Poor stock index. One third believed their portfolios performed better than the market by five percent. One out of six believed their portfolios performed better by ten percent. However, when their portfolios were actually examined 88 percent had overestimated the performance. The Pharisee had obviously overestimated his spiritual condition as well. The Pharisee looked at his neighbor, the tax collector, and concluded he was much more righteous than his neighbor. Jesus saw them both in a different light.
Before we consider ourselves to be spiritually better than our neighbors perhaps we should consider how Jesus sees us. It may be that we have overestimated our position.
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Have you every met someone whom you knew was talking the talk, but not walking the walk? I have and even though I knew this I still loved that person. God told us to Love one another as He Loved us. By showing this love for the other person it just might help them realize where they’re wrong and start walking the walk. Make sure your walking with Jesus today and SMILE because God Loves You.
By Ed Wrather
Submitted by Richard
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