Monday Meditation: ‘Tell Me a Story,’ Part 5: Admitting my lack

Those proud of themselves because they religiously follow the rules aren’t the only ones who may look down on others.

Some suburban dwellers, for example, having worked hard to accumulate comfort, feel sure those living in poverty are simply lazy.

Some academics, eager to talk about their great learning, smirk behind the backs of those who don’t know what they know.

Some executives, after sacrificing and finagling to reach a corner office, disregard the concerns of the workers in the cubicles beside them.

And these are only a few obvious examples. Pride self-fed by derision of others can fester in any situation. It could come even to the caregiver.

“No one knows the sacrifices I’ve made.”

“Sure, they can enjoy a wonderful vacation; I’m doing my duty here at home.”

“You volunteer two hours a week and call it service. Try spending one day with me in my kitchen and laundry—and bathroom—and you’ll see what service really looks like!”

The fact is that any of us might sneer at least a little about others whose understanding or experience doesn’t come to our level. And giving in to that tendency opens a path toward the spiritual pride Jesus illustrates here.

The Scripture says Jesus told this parable “to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else.” The story shows the contrast between the prayers of two men: The Pharisee celebrates his obedience; the tax collector confesses his sin.

We might ask ourselves, “Do we try to find God’s favor by keeping a list like the Pharisee’s?” And it doesn’t matter if the items on our list are cruder than his. Subtle pride is still pride.

Not that our everyday caregiving isn’t important. Jesus said we’re serving him when we serve others. But God loved us long before we were thrust into our current set of responsibilities. The fact is he loves us not for what we do but simply because we are.

The second man in today’s story put himself in a place to understand that. We can join him on our knees before God who could never love us more, no matter how much we sacrifice as caregivers.

Read: Luke 18:9-14 NLT

Pray: Help me, Lord, to be satisfied with your love without feeling I need to earn it.