“Respond Humbly”
(Luke 18:9-14)
Humility. It seems to be a distant character trait in our world today, doesn’t it? Even in our circle of churches, pride can creep in and become way too evident in our midst. Sometimes when I look around at our Christian culture, it reminds of this video…
[Show “It’s All About Me” Video]
Most of us are just way too consumed with themselves, aren’t we?
That video illustrates the attitude of one of the characters in our text today – Luke 18:9-14. And though the stories are centuries apart, the attitudes underneath them both are the same: Pride vs. Humility. Yes, the story in Luke 18 teaches us much about these two words and cuts to the core of our deepest attitudes. So would you take your Bible and turn to Luke 18 and let your eyes rest on 18:9? Let’s see what it means to respond humbly in a world of pride of self-confidence.
The context indicates Christ is about to teach a lesson to people who were trusting in themselves...to people who had self-confidence about their own spiritual status/value apart from the merits of Jesus Christ. And so he describes two people:
1. The Pharisee (18:10-12)
His physical posture is packed with pride. This was not uncommon for Pharisees, however, because visibility was an important element in their religious practices.
His verbal words are riddled with arrogance, even superiority. It is amazing how much he brags about how he goes above and beyond the law’s legal expectations. Comparison plagues him and his efforts to be good enough. How sad!
Perhaps you’re wondering, “Does this Pharisee represent anything?” Yes – the nation of Israel. Allow me to explain.
For some time, Christ had been preaching the gospel, calling men and women everywhere, especially the Jewish nation – his own! – to repentance. Many responded, but not the Pharisees, religious leaders, or teachers of the law. Instead, they continued to take pride in themselves and have confidence in their own ability to be righteous before God. In fact, the Pharisee in the story is representative of the nation of Israel – proud, stubborn, blind, yet lost. That attitude of pride – and subsequent denial of Jesus as their Messiah – is what kept them from justification. They heard the call and responded proudly. Yes, their refusal to simply repent and believe was the reason they were on a road to spiritual failure and destruction.
2. The Tax Collector (18:13)
His physical posture indicates humility, even self-loathing (“beat his chest”).
His verbal words resonate with desperation, even degradation about his own status and position (“mercy” is definite in the original, meaning the one and only mercy of God for him whom he calls a “sinner”). Additionally, the word for mercy is also the word for propitiation (used later in the NT), which indicates he knew needed …
I’m sure you are wondering, “Who or what does the tax collector represent?” Good question. I believe he represents all those who, though not officially “on the inside” to begin with (Jews), still found a place within the family of God by responding to the message of repentance and faith. Think about it – many others, less fortunate spiritually and physically – bankrupt! – were doing exactly what Christ was proclaiming: repenting and believing. Guess what? They were the ones finding justification – membership into the family of God even without the pedigree! No doubt this tax collector represents those who, though physically and religiously were not really qualified, simply fell on the mercy of God and begged for his forgiveness. They heard the call and responded humbly. And in return they found God exalting them to a place of spiritual success. They were finally right with God! Wow!
Interesting, isn’t it? Common to both were the elements of physical posture and verbal words – it’s how their inner attitude showed up on the outside. Yet, both ended up with completely different results. One was justified, the other condemned. Why? Luke 18:14b sums it up – would you read it with me?
“…everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Here’s the simple principle:
“Responding humbly to the call of God is the beginning of true success.”
By the way, our response can be seen and heard, can’t it? You bet! Both of these responses – the proud one and humble one – were seen physically in their posture and heard verbally in their words. WOW! Yes, true inner attitudes do come out, and we should not be afraid to be honest with ourselves and others when we sense duplicity and hypocrisy, or to affirm true repentance when we see it through tears and brokenness. Yes, words and actions reveal what is really going on inside our hearts!
You see, this statement begins ringing true, doesn’t it? Would you read it with me once more?
“Responding humbly to the call of God is the beginning of true success.”
It is not only true about the people in the text, it is true about us today. This principle holds great application for us.
This application starts with a simple question: When God calls, how do you respond – proudly or humbly?
First, consider the first call God makes to us and ask yourself this question:
Q#1: Have I responded humbly to God’s initial call to justification?
Remember – justification is not about behavior, but belief. How good we are or how bad we are is not the question. That’s already settled – we’re bad! And that’s true, not because we act that way, but because we are born that way (Romans 5:12,19). In fact, we don’t need to be saved from our sinful actions; we need to be saved from our sinful nature.
I had the privilege this week of sitting and talking with a young man who kept thinking his actions were the problem. I explained his nature was the problem, and that is what God wants to change. God desire to plant within us his seed (1 John)…then and only then can we start living the life of truly successful discipleship.
Have you been hearing the call of God to simply repent and believe? Have you responded humbly? The man in the story knew that he needed the mercy of God, and that only that mercy could ‘make him right’ (i.e., justify or propitiate) with God.
There’s another application I want to make here regarding God’s call to us – it is that call towards obedience. Let’s ask ourselves…
Q#2: Am I responding humbly to God’s progressive call to sanctification?
That’s right – God is in a continuous mode of sanctifying us and making us more like his Son. In fact, this is clearly spelled out in Romans 8:29 – look at this verse:
“…whom he did foreknow he predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…”
How does he do this? He does this, I believe, by calling us to acts of obedience. And how we respond to his call upon us at those times will greatly affect our spiritual success. Make no mistake – our eventual and complete sanctification is guaranteed in this passage. What is in question is the pace of our progressive sanctification while we’re here on earth. It will culminate when we see Christ; But how much of it will commence while I’m still on the earth? That is directly tied to my obedience.
Now I want you to notice something about God’s sanctification of us as described here in Romans 8:29 – it is connected to a passage about difficulties and trials. That’s right – tough times are God’s best tool for spiritual and physical development. Yet, what is our most common response in tough times? “Not me, Lord!”
I have a better suggestion for you today – respond humbly and watch God start exalting you and lifting you above the trials and tragedies. Do what Romans 8:28 says – Love him and let him works all things for your good!
This is true whether you are undergoing a trial of your own making or whether it is simply a curveball from life. Regardless, how we respond really makes a massive difference in our spiritual growth and success.
Our response as a church to our recent location dilemma has been very revealing and very defining. And not just to the actual process of moving, but also to the people involved. The principal at Parkview…the Community Education office…God wants us to respond humbly to adversity! In this way we model our Savior. Can we still be persistent? Yes! Can we still be disciplined and proactive? Yes! But even in our kingdom aggressiveness we need to be humble as well, what Jesus described as being “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
And the same is true for you – how are you responding to difficult times? For instance...
...Have you found yourself spiritually exposed? Things suddenly came out in the open and you were left trying to “save face”? The best way to respond is in humility – fall on the mercy of God!
...Perhaps you feel like a watermelon seed between the fingers of the evil one – squeezed and pressured? Not sure if you can take one more day of this trial? The best response is a humble one – let God lift you up, not yourself.
Our response to God’s call is one of the best measuring sticks of our true spiritual condition. If we continually respond in pride and arrogance, it indicates a distance from God and a separation from him that will lead us to ruin and destruction. But a humble response is the beginning point of true spiritual success. For Christ taught us in this text that – would you read this with me one last time –
“Responding humbly to the call of God is the beginning of true success.”
Let’s respond to God this morning, shall we?
I want to open up the altar and let’s bombard God with people who posture themselves in humility and verbalize our own spiritual bankruptness…let’s respond humbly to God. Perhaps you want to write on your feedback car an issue you’re wanting to lash back against….maybe you want to ask God to forgive you and be saved today…whatever it is, respond humbly to God today and let him start lifting you up.
