1. Self Esteem and Funeral Director
A mild mannered young man came into a counselor's office ready for a divorce. He complained that his wife was so bossy that she was driving him off the wall. He wanted things to change, immediately.
The counselor gave him a book on assertiveness. He was so desperate to change things that he quickly read the whole book. Determined to make changes, he stormed into the house and walked up to his wife. Pointing a finger in her face, he said, "From now on, I want you to know that I am the man of this house, and my word is law!
"I want you to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and to finish the meal with a fabulous baked dessert.
"Then, after dinner, you're going to draw me my bath so I can relax.
And when I'm finished with my bath, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"
"The funeral director," said his wife.
2. Our hearts can become hardened or impure so that we need new ones
a. We can be hard or harsh toward others
b. We can be self-centered or even self-righteous in our hearts -- to our own destruction
c. God will replace stone hearts with hearts of flesh; He will create within us clean, pure hearts
3. Luke 18.9-14
4. The impact of the heart -- Constructive or Destructive?
I. A Tension to Resolve (Works vs. Faith)
A. The Role of Works in Our Salvation by God
Fruits of Faith
The phrase "catch-22" refers to a problem that has a solution that is prohibited by the problem itself. A typical "catch-22" is when a job seeker is denied a job because of a lack of experience which he will never get unless he can get a job. Not exactly a "catch-22" puzzle, but a challenge nonetheless, is this theological problem: We cannot be saved with good works, but neither can we be saved without good works. How is that possible?
1. The Bible clearly says we are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
2. But it also says that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). But as a rule, good works are evidence of our faith, a sign that our faith is alive and well (Ephesians 2:10).
B. The Relationship of Works in Our Faith
1. Our Works
a. Aren't too good -- We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Isaiah 64.6
b. Can Lead Us Astray -- Self-righteous behavior in hating others -- Luke 18.9
2. Our Works Show Our Salvation and Our Faith
a. "Emunah" -- Steadiness -- Exodus 17.12 (Battle with Amalek)
b. Believing God will do as God says -- 2 Spies had faith 10 did not; Abraham
c. Jesus' Contrast --
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' Matthew 7.21-23
"Faith and works are like the light and heat of a candle; they cannot be separated." Unknown
II. A Trade to Complete (My Works for God's Works; Trust God, Not Myself)
A Foolish Trade
A man walked into a convenience store, put a $20 bill on the counter and asked for change. When the clerk opened the drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register.
The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving his $20 bill on the counter.
So how much did he get from the drawer? Fifteen bucks.
How often have we done the same thing, given up something of value in an attempt to get something else of even more value, only to be disappointed in what we ended up with?
Remember Esau? He left his birthright on the counter as he grabbed a bowl of stew and ran! Not a smart trade!
Any time we trade God's favor for the popularity of men, we do the same thing. Any time we trade an eternity with God to "live for the moment", we do the same thing. Any time we trade our character and reputation for a few minutes of passion or pleasure, we do the same thing.
A. Trusting Selves Instead of God -- Pharisee
1. Separated Ones
a. Avoided sin and sinners -- Luke 15.1ff
b. Jesus' evaluation of some of them --
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23.27-28
2. Praying with himself (was God not listening?)
3. Favorably comparing himself to others
4. "I" -- 5 times
B. Trusting God Instead of Self -- Tax Collector
1. Humble heart
2. Allusion to Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
III. A Truth to Grasp (God Works Differently Than We Do) -- Luke 18.14
A. Paradoxes of God
* The way up is down
* The way of the first is the last
* The way of success is service
* The way of attainment is abandonment
* The way of strength is weakness
* The way of life is death -- death to self, society, family
* God's power is made perfect... in our weakness.
* Want to get the most? Go to the least.
* To be free be a slave to God.
* To become great, become least.
* To find yourself Lose yourself.
* To be honored, be humble
* To 'get even' with your enemies, Bless, love and pray for them
B. God's Ways Pay
Humility A New Concept?
Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. Mark 10:43-44
Researchers at Arizona State University released a study showing that while arrogance and self-importance impress outsiders, it's bosses with humility who impress their employees. When a CEO displays a humble spirit, he or she gains the long-term respect of coworkers. The Arizona researchers called this kind of attitude: "Servant Leadership."
Management expert Ken Blanchard points out that Jesus Christ not only taught servant leadership; He modeled it perfectly. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. As we humble ourselves and serve others,
1. Come to church to encounter God
a. Sometimes we come like the Pharisee
b. Sometimes we come like the Tax Collector
2. Our Encounter with God is not safe -- God changes things; God changes cooperative hearts and resulting actions
3. Picture of Sin
A man in Palm Beach County, Florida, was arrested for theft. He might have gotten away with it except he posted "selfies" of himself with the loot on his Instagram page. Officials searched his house and found a quarter-million dollars' worth of stolen plunder. As they filled out the arrest warrant, they asked the man his occupation. He replied, "Thief."
It's strange when we're proud of the things we should be ashamed of -- and ashamed of the things we should boast about. The Bible tells us to boast in the Lord, but to avoid the appearance of evil. Even as fully forgiven, born-again Christians, we can become proud of some evil habit in our lives. And, sad to say, we can be ashamed of serving Jesus. That's a terrible condition.
Although we enjoy God's grace here on earth, we need to remember He is just in all His dealings with us and we should never take His grace for granted. Listen instead to 2 Corinthians 7:1:
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
4. "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above." Robert Robinson in the hymn, "Come, Thou Fount" or "O Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
