The Necessity of Humility

As we pray and confess our sins, let us examine the lives of two characters in one of Jesus’ parables.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Lk 18:9-14:

Lk 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness m  and looked down on everybody else, n Jesus told this parable:  Lk 18:10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, o  one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Lk 18:11 The Pharisee stood up p  and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.   Lk 18:12 I fast q  twice a week and give a tenth r  of all I get.’ Lk 18:13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast s  and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ t Lk 18:14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”



These two men represent two groups in the Church. The tax collector represents those who always keep in mind that whoever or whatever they are is all by God’s grace. They acknowledge that only God is holy and that they are sinners who constantly need his grace. Such people do not hesitate to confess their sins.

The Pharisee on the other hand represents those who focus only on titles (disciple, bible talk leader, family group leader, regional leader etc.), who have positions, who claim to be in right standing with God, who demand respect and acknowledgement. Because of their self-confidence, they have taken God out of the picture and see only themselves. And they see sins so easily (and judge) in other people's life but theirs.

They cannot confess sin because they don’t want people to look down on them. They consider that shameful in the eyes of men.  They forget that they have no value in the eyes of God who looks upon the heart of men. They demand so much from others and yet give so little.

We can easily become like this. God knows who we are and we cannot be ashamed of opening up to him. Sin is sin and wherever and in whoever’s heart or life it is found, it should be confessed. God is more concerned about the life I live than the message I preach.

Having pictured the Pharisee is such a bad light, one might be provoked to pray, "God I thank you that I am not like that Pharisee", whereas in fact by doing so one may be just like that Pharisee. But should we not be thankful and acknowledge those positive qualities and works which God has produced in us and through us? Shouldn't we thank God for what sanctification he has accomplished in us? And concerning despising others doesn't it say of the godly that they "despise a vile man" Ps 15:4. Another thing is that we may underevaluate God's work in other people. Notice that the Pharisee puts down the tax collector. But while Ps 15:4 advocates despising vile men, the very next thing it says is that the godly man "honors those who fear the LORD" and prior to that "casts no slur on his fellowman".

It is not how many titles we carry or how eloquent our speech is - some are even so talented to convict others but themselves! What matters is how our life really and truly is before the eyes of whom we will give account to.

Ayo Da Silva
Islands Region