Proud to be Humble!
a sermon based on Luke 18:9-14
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
   
Let me start by saying that my sermon title "Proud to be Humble!" contains a paradox. How can we be proud of being humble? The minute we say we're proud, we're no longer humble. So, don't be proud of your humility, because the minute you are, out goes the very thing you're proud of.
   
Jesus' parable of the priest and the tax collector shows the dangers of leading a pious life: we often--like the priest--forget where we came from, and that we are still sinners--pardoned sinners--but still sinners.
  
Jesus--the son of God himself--showed us by example how to live under God's guidance and yet be humble at the very core of our being. Jesus did not consider himself equal with God; humbled himself even to a point to clothe himself with humanity and in all aspects become humble and obedient--even to the death on the cross.
  
Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and served people from all walks of life. So, when Jesus speaks about humility, he knows what he is talking about. He was not only teaching it, he was living it.
 
So what can we take away from the parable Jesus gives us?
 
According to the lesson Jesus gives us about the tax collector and the priest, we learn that a truly humble person does not make comparisons. That's a message that hits home especially in our culture, isn't it? It already starts in Kindergarten and right through school. There is peer pressure, pressure to fit in. And there is a lot of judgment out there-even judgment based on what you wear. As a result, we constantly make comparisons. No wonder we get caught up in the "keeping up with the Jones' cycle.
 
Unfortunately, even we as church people sometimes become judgmental about others as we place them squarely outside the church. We Christians can be negative like the priest in Jesus' example and say: "thank God I'm not as bad as he or she."

Have you heard the story of Walter, an impoverished old man who applied for membership in a local church? The pastor, looking at the man's rags realized that he would never fit into the fellowship of the church, so he attempted to discourage him to join with all kinds of excuses.

The old man, becoming aware that he was not wanted, finally said that he would pray on it. Several days later he returned. "Well," asked the pastor, "did the Lord give you an answer?" Yes Sir, he did" was the old man's answer. "Jesus told me: "Walter, it isn't any use; I've been trying to get in that same church myself for ten years, and I'm still not accepted there."

When it comes to making comparison and judgments about others, Charles Spurgeon can help us. He once said: The higher a man is in grace, the lower he will be in his own estimation. Not because he is comparing himself with people, but because he is comparing himself with the God.

In our growth in humility we need to learn how to compare ourselves less to others and more to Jesus Christ. And once we realize how much we still have to learn, we will gain the right attitude of humility. And that's the best starting point for learning how to walk in Jesus' shoes.

One of the greatest things a human can experience is what St. Paul calls "Freedom in Christ," knowing that we have been forgiven; that our shortcomings are real, but that they are covered and forgiven. Faith in Christ can give us a whole new and relaxed attitude toward life where we can accept ourselves as sinners--pardoned sinners. That freedom takes the pressure right off.

As the parable of the priest and the tax collector shows, we all need to appeal to God's grace and mercy whether it's the tax collector or the priest--no one is above God's grace and mercy.

The most wonderful aspect of our faith is that God graciously forgives us even though we don't deserve to be taken off the hook.

So, let's not forget where we came from when we look at those whom we may think of as modern-day "tax collectors" in our church and community. It's so easy for us to forget where we came from, though, isn't it? What can we do to work on that issue?

Alex Haley, the author of Roots, has a picture in his office, showing a turtle sitting atop a fence. The picture is there to remind him of a lesson he learned long ago: "If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he had some help."

Says Alex, "Any time I start thinking, Wow, isn't this marvelous what I've done! I look at that picture and remember how this turtle (as myself) got up on that post."
  
Let's not forget that it is by God's grace that we are where we are and who we are today.
  
But I think humility goes even further. It is the true acceptance and tolerance of the weaknesses and shortcomings of other human beings! True humility accepts another person's weakness as much as our own!
  
A truly humble person neither views himself higher than others, nor does he regard himself lower, but is rather aware of a common bond with the other's humanness--in having strengths and imperfections.
  
We usually do well, accepting other's strengths--even expecting others to be perfect. That part of other's humanity we are good at accepting. But what about the weakness of others? We should make allowances for other's weaknesses and shortcomings if we don't want to be judged by the same standard.
  
Think about this: "At the most fundamental level of our humanness, it is our weaknesses that make us alike, it is our strengths that make us different."
  
Where we as a church demonstrate true humility every Sunday morning when it comes to accepting and embracing others in their struggles. That's why, I believe, the time of joys and concerns is so important on Sunday mornings. Because we are all in the same boat when it comes to illnesses, to things that come against us in life. We all struggle with our weaknesses. That's what we can build on. Let's come together in humility, accepting each other in our respective weaknesses and let us celebrate the Grace of Our God that
is poured out over us as a free gift every day.
  
That's the way Jesus says we can go home justified, free and stronger in our faith. Let's learn from the Master, let us be like the sinner in confessing our sins together. Amen.