Playing the Game?

Luke 18:10-14

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extotioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.



We see this so often in this day in age, even in our church houses. Dress nice, carry the big Bible, say a prayer no one understands, and act as in a "Holier than thou" way. It is very easy to be judgmental and look at someone and say "well if I was them.... I wouldn't have done this and that and they don't read their Bible or they don't pray... etc." much like the Pharisee did in this passage. We should be more like the publican here, acting as if we were dogs and not above God while in prayer and in our every day life.

We are all different, and we are only ourself. Thus, we should only worry about ourself, when it comes to our spiritual life that is. We are to pray for each other (James 5:16), we are to encourage others (as Paul did in Hebrews 12), and we are to care for each other (Matthew 22:39), however we are not to judge others. Only one "person" (and I use quotes because He's not just man) has a right to judge us, and it is He, who is without sin. He came down to this Earth, he experienced what we do every day (Ecclesiastes 1:9). If we live our lives and holding ourselves accountable for our own spirituality, instead of everyone elses, we would be growing more and more as a Christian.

Finally let's look at verse 14. I think the best story (or rather, stories) in the Bible to illustrate it is Martha and Mary with Jesus. Every time we see these three, Mary is at the feet of Jesus, listening, washing his feet with oil, or praying. Martha, on the other hand, right in Jesus's feet, telling Him what he should be doing, much like a pharisee would do. God honours the humble. In 1 Samuel 3:10, Samuel is being called by the Lord, but he doesn't know it. He thinks it's his brother Eli messing with him or something. Finally, Eli realizes it's the Lord calling him, and he tells Samuel next time he hears his name called, to answer to the Lord. Samuel hears his name again, and he says "Speak, for thy servant heareth". That should always be our response in anything God wants us to do for him.

"The world has yet to see what God can do with one man fully surrendered unto him."

Don't just play the game.