Comparative Righteousness

[Christ4Ever]

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. Luke 18:11

Imagine for a moment that you had to appear in traffic court after one of your localities finest clocked you doing 55 mph in a 35 mph speed zone and then pulled you over and issued you a hefty ticket. Instead of acknowledging your guilt and paying the fine, you appear before the judge and offer this kind of alibi: “Hey, it’s not like I was driving drunk and caused a serious accident—and I know someone who did just that. I didn’t do anything as bad as what he did.”

Your mistake in this scenario is treating your own lawbreaking in comparative terms. In other words, you thought, Well, I’m not as bad as this other guy, so…A quick word to the wise here: that won’t wash in traffic court.

It doesn’t wash with God, either. All sins, even those you might consider “little ones,” are a serious offense to God, and you won’t find forgiveness and restoration by excusing your own sinful thoughts, words, and actions by comparing yourself with others whose sins you consider “worse,” On the contrary, you find forgiveness and restoration only by humbly confessing your sins for that they are: falling short of the standards God has set for His people.

 

[this human]

We were forgiven nearly 2000 years ago. God's mercy is renewed every morning because everyday we all are more deserving of His judgment. When we become Jesus we can address others but until then all we can do is take up our cross again, yield ourselves to God's purpose and hope that in some small way our effort may be used by God/Jesus that He might give increase for His kingdom.