Kingdom Building
October 26, 2019
Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Is Jesus saying there is no privilege in the Kingdom of God? That would be shocking news for those who self-identify the way they live as righteous for that is essentially what the Pharisee is saying. There is no mention of loving one’s neighbor, no mention of feeding the hungry or clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger or restoring the prisoner, and no concern for the health of others. The Pharisee does not refer to serving as a light to the world or being the salt of the earth. His prayer is very egocentric concerned with self rather than society.
In the USA society today, we seemed to have shortened the list of rules we must obey to be righteous. On average, Christians give 2.5% of their income to churches*. Adultery is so commonplace; one might think it was removed from the Ten Commandments. Everyone seems to be bent on finding the fastest and best way to make more money no matter who it hurts. We admire those who succeed. We surely do not call them thieves and rogues.
We would all benefit from time to time discerning where our money is being spent for that is where our hearts will be**. We might want to dust of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and search for its influence in our lives. The same could be said for Matthew 25.
The only privilege we need in our lives the the privilege to serve God. The grace of God is sufficient for our self worth.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we invest more in self rather than building your Kingdom ruled by love. Amen/
*https://pushpay.com › blog › church-giving-statistics
**See Mathew 6:21
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.