Now He said also, to some who have confidence in themselves that they are just, and are scorning the rest, this parable. "Two men went up into the sanctuary to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tribute collector. The Pharisee, standing, prayed to himself; 'God, I am thanking you that I am not even as the rest of men, rapacious, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tribute collector. I am fasting twice of a sabbath. I am taking tithes from all whatever I am acquiring.' Now the tribute collector, standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest saying, 'God, make a propitiatory shelter for me, the sinner!' I am saying to you, this man descended to his home justified, rather than that one, for everyone who is exalting himself will be humbled, yet he who is humbling himself should be exalted.
Luke 18: 9-14, Concordant New Testament
The hotshot quarterback was in a celebratory mood. His team was up big at halftime, and he was dancing on the sidelines proclaiming, "It's over!" The trouble was, it was only halftime, and the team he was facing was none other than Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide. Nevertheless, Texas A & M quarterback Johnny Menzel continued with his celebration as if he had just won the national title. Two quarters later, as Johnny made his way to mid field in defeat, the cameras caught a Alabama lineman put his arm around Menzel and say something to him. When he was asked after the game what he had said to the young quarterback, the Alabama player said matter of factly, "I told him to humble himself." Wise advice from someone who had been there before. I can honestly say that I have been in Johnny Menzel's shoes before, where my pride has gotten the better of me. Many times, it does not end up well. Don't get me wrong, not all pride is a bad thing. There is a old saying that competence breeds confidence, and I stand by this. For if we are competent at something, we are more than confident that we can do it. I believe that there is nothing wrong with this. However, there are also times where our own confidence takes us places we should never be. That is, exalted over those around us. Nine times out of ten, we are only exalted by ourselves and not by others. Confidence run amok. What would God say about such confidence? Well, in the right context I believe that He would approve. Are we confident in Him? Are we confident in the indwelling Christ? It is this form of confidence which leads to our knowing of the Father. It is our arrogance which proclaims that we don't need Him.
For if anyone is supposing himself to be anything, being nothing, he is imposing on himself
Galatians 6: 3, Concordant New Testament
Let me be clear, there is a definite difference between confidence and arrogance. One comes from knowing while the other simply proclaims we know it all already. There is a big reason that Jesus Himself taught a valuable lesson on arrogance when He spoke of the Pharisee and the tax collector {Luke 18:9-14}. From the get- go, this arrogant Pharisee proclaimed that he himself was so much better that those around him. He abided by the rules and gave so much more than the next guy. The arrogance of the Pharisee is evident when he prays that he is not like that tax collector, immediately putting the tax collector beneath his own status. The way he saw it, this Pharisee was the most righteous man alive. On the other hand, the tax collector approached the Father with reverence. He knew that he wasn't the best game in town, but he also knew that despite this, God was able to provide for him. The tax collector humbled himself. Which of these men would you assume was looked upon more favorably by the Lord? Yes, the man who had humbled himself before the Lord went home justified. In the end, Jesus provides a good moral to this parable, "Everyone who is exalting himself will be humbled, yet he who is humbling himself should be exalted." Wise words indeed. We do well to never act out of our own arrogance, proclaiming that we, and not those around us, are the best game in town. Sooner or later the opportunity will present itself where we will be required to humble ourselves.
Now he who is boasting, in the Lord let him be boasting. For not he who is commending himself is qualified, but whom the Lord is commending.
2 Corinthians 10: 17-18, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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