March 19, 2025 • 24 mins
What defines your worth? Is it achievements, wealth, status, influence, or how you compare to others? In this piercing exploration of Luke 18, we confront the universal human tendency to measure ourselves against others and trust in worldly securities rather than God's grace.
Through three powerful encounters, Jesus systematically dismantles conventional wisdom about success and righteousness. First, we witness the shocking contrast between a proud Pharisee and a humble tax collector, where Jesus declares it's not the religious achiever but the broken sinner who goes home justified. Next, when children approach Jesus, he doesn't just tolerate their presence but holds them up as models of the faith we should emulate. Finally, a wealthy, moral man walks away from eternal life because he cannot surrender what he trusts in most.
These aren't just ancient stories—they're mirrors reflecting our own struggles with self-righteousness, independence, and misplaced security. Many of us still wrestle with the same core issues: Do we find our identity in what we do? Do we resist childlike dependence on God? What are we holding onto that keeps us from fully embracing God's kingdom?
The invitation Jesus offers remains revolutionary: let go of what you're clinging to, and you'll find not emptiness but freedom. When we stop striving to prove ourselves, we discover peace that circumstances can't shake. When we loosen our grip on material things, we experience contentment that achievements can't provide. The paradox of faith is that surrender leads not to loss but to gain—freedom from having to prove yourself, rest from chasing what will never satisfy, and joy from living for something eternal.
Ready to experience a life that truly matters? It begins with a simple yet profound question: What needs to fall away so you can fully trust God?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well welcome to Madison Church.
I'm Stephen Feith, lead pastor.
I'm glad that you're joining usonline, but want to invite you
to join us in person sometimesoon.
I was thinking this week abouthow each and every one of us, we
all, measure our personal worthby something, even if it's
different.
It might be different for you,but I think the common thing for
all of us is we're kind ofalways in a comparison mode.
(00:22):
Some of us will look toachievements, we'll compare our
achievements to others, and if Ihave more achievements than you
, I feel better than you.
Others place their trust infinancial security, believing
that stability and comfort willdefine my success, and still
others chase after status orinfluence.
(00:44):
If I just get enoughrecognition, that will prove I
have value.
Right, I mean, that's what theysaid, that I have value.
Cs Lewis puts it this way pridegets no pleasure out of having
something, only out of havingmore of it than the next man.
Most of us aren't justsatisfied with success.
(01:05):
We might have gotten the degree, we got the promotion, but we
still aren't satisfied.
We want to be better thansomeone else, anyone else.
But when we define our worth bywhat we've done, what we've
accomplished, what we possess.
We are measuring our lives bythe wrong standard.
We've been in this series ALife that Matters, in which
(01:28):
we're kind of trying to reallybreak away from these ideas.
That that's where A Life thatMatters is found.
It's not found in how muchmoney we have, how popular we
are, how many achievements thatwe've gathered throughout our
lives, but rather it's aboutfollowing Jesus.
And in today's passage we'regoing to Luke 18,.
Jesus challenges how we definenot just success but
(01:52):
righteousness and security, andthrough three different
encounters he reverses theexpectations.
You see, it was the Pharisee,was the one who was thought to
be justified, but he is notjustified.
The children are seen asinsignificant, but Jesus says no
, they're actually a model offaith.
And the rich, who in that erawere assumed to be blessed, are
(02:14):
at risk of losing eternal life.
But these stories aren't justabout them, not just about
someone else somewhere else 2000years ago.
They're about us today.
Just about someone elsesomewhere else 2,000 years ago,
they're about us today.
So I would ask you to think aswe dive into today's verses what
do you put your trust in?
(02:34):
Where do you find your security?
What makes you feel safe?
What keeps you from fullyembracing God's kingdom or God's
will in your life.
You see, the question before ustoday is not just about wealth,
humility or faith.
It's about the posture of ourhearts before God.
Will we cling to what we thinkmakes us worthy, or will we let
(03:02):
go and trust the one who trulygives us life?
This is where a life thatmatters is found, and so, as we
move through today's passage,let's be open to Jesus's
invitation to loosen our grip onwhatever we're clinging to so
often, what the world tells uswe should cling to and embrace
the upside down way of thekingdom of God.
One way that we measure ourworth, as I said, is about
comparison, and actually it maynot even be so much as like I'm
(03:26):
great because they're good andI'm better than them.
It might just be I'm acceptablebecause they're awful and I'm
better than them.
At least I'm not as bad as Juddright, for example.
Just kidding, we assume that ifwe follow the rules, we are on
the right track with God.
I did all the things I shoulddo.
I didn't do all the things Ishouldn't do.
(03:46):
I've been walking the straightand narrow and therefore I'm
good.
But Jesus tells a parable thatsays no, that is faulty thinking
.
So, beginning in verse 10 here,chapter 18, two men went to the
temple to pray.
One was a Pharisee and theother a despised tax collector.
(04:08):
The Pharisee stood by himselfand he prayed.
I thank you, god, that I'm notlike other people cheaters,
sinners, adulterers certainlynot like that tax collector over
there.
I fast twice a week and I giveyou a tenth of my income, but
(04:36):
the tax collector stood at adistance.
Jesus goes on, he says I tellyou the sinner the sinner, not
the Pharisee returned home,justified before God, for those
who exalt themselves will behumbled and those who humble
themselves will be exalted.
You'll have to remember we do.
(04:57):
We pick on the Pharisees a lot.
We live 2,000 years after them.
A lot of messages have beenspoken about them, but the
Pharisees really did in that era, represent spiritual success.
They were well-educated, theywere obedient, they were
respected religious leaders andthey followed that law with
great precision.
Now, contrast that with the taxcollector.
On the other hand, they weredespised traitors known for
(05:21):
corruption, extortion.
You could kind of compare themto like a modern day criminal
politician or like a drug cartelleader.
Nobody would expect the taxcollector to be the one in right
standing with God.
And yet the Pharisees' prayer,if you kind of picked up on it,
it was all about him, not God.
(05:44):
He trusts his own morality, hisown achievements.
It's all about him and me, andthank you, god, that I am so
awesome.
Whereas the tax collector hasnothing, and he knows he has
nothing.
As a matter of fact, you getthe sense that he doesn't even
think he's anything.
He makes no excuses, he justpleads for mercy.
(06:05):
God, have mercy on me.
I'm right here, and Jesus'sconclusion shocks the one who
looks righteous, the one you'dpoint to and say that person's
holy, he's got the job, he knowsthe stuff, that person is not
justified, whereas that otherperson, the one who seems
unworthy, that was the personwho was accepted by God.
(06:27):
Now, I know we don't havePharisees and tax collectors
today, but the heart issuesreally do remain the same.
Many of us, even those withgood intentions, we wrestle with
comparison, we struggle withself-righteousness and we
constantly misplace our trust.
So a modern Pharisee might bethe Christian who follows all of
the right religious practices,often the ones that everyone
(06:50):
else can see, but inwardly theylook down on people who don't
measure up to whatever standardthey deem is the standard.
It could be the sociallysuccessful person who equates
status with worth, while theoverlooked, those struggling to
get through every day, those whoare unseen, those who are
(07:11):
unpolished, get dismissed.
It could be the self-sufficientindividual who believes that
being a good person I'm goodenough is enough, while the
spiritually dependent personrecognizes their need for grace.
Jesus' reversal remains thesame God justifies the humble,
(07:32):
not the self-reliant.
So the question is if we'rebeing honest with ourselves
today, who do we resemble?
Do we try really hard to followthe rules that people can see
to make sure I look a certainway on the outside?
Or do we approach God inhumility and brokenness and say
(07:52):
I know I'm not good enough and Iknow I'll never be good enough,
but God have mercy.
Now.
If the Pharisee's problem wasentrusting himself, this next
passage pushes the questionfurther.
What does true faith then looklike?
Jesus switches from religiouspride to humility of children.
(08:13):
If justification comes not fromself-righteousness what I do,
how I think, what I believe butfrom a humble heart, who can
better model that for us thanchildren?
Jesus calls the children and hesays to the disciples let the
children come to me, Don't stopthem, for the kingdom of God
belongs to those who are likethese children.
I tell you the truth anyone whodoesn't receive the kingdom of
(08:34):
God like a child will neverenter it.
Now, not a lot's changed in thissense.
In 2000 years, jewish children,the Jewish world children, were
cherished by families.
In today's society, we cherishchildren, but let's also be real
.
They are weak, they aredependent, they are annoying and
they are powerless.
And that was how it was.
2,000 years ago also, thedisciples, reflecting their
(08:58):
culture, tried to turn kids away.
They're kids and they're tryingto get to Jesus, so they're too
insignificant.
Don't you know who this guy is?
He walks on water and he healspeople, and he's the Messiah.
He doesn't got time for you,you have no knowledge, you have
no achievements, you have noinfluence.
But Jesus flips theirexpectation.
He says no, no, no, I'm not toobusy for them, I'm not too big
(09:20):
for them, I'm not too importantfor them.
He says bring them here, let mebe with them.
He welcomes them and heactually goes a step further.
He doesn't just say no, I canclear a little time out of my
schedule for them.
He says this is who the kingdomof God belongs to, not the
Pharisee waving his arms at thetemple, tithing, fasting, not
(09:42):
him, but these little kids.
And if you've ever met a littlekid like these guys are selfish
and inconsiderate, right.
I've got three of them livingat my house right now for at
least a few more years.
Jesus makes it anyone.
He makes it stronger.
He says anyone who does notreceive the kingdom like this
will not enter it.
Now let's be clear.
Jesus isn't celebrating likeimmaturity or anything.
(10:05):
He isn't saying that we must bechildish.
He is saying we must bechildlike, completely dependent
on God, fully trusting in God,eager to receive grace, not earn
it.
And in our world, which valuesself-sufficiency and expertise,
(10:27):
jesus calls us to embrace ratherthe opposite of those things a
childlike faith, one that trusts, one that's dependent, one
that's receptive.
I think in our modern society,the skeptical intellectual who
struggles to accept faithwithout having all of the
answers, resisting thesimplicity of trusting in God.
(10:48):
I think of the self-madeindividual who takes pride in
their independence but finds itdifficult to surrender control
to God's provision.
And even the perfectionistbeliever is out here, trying to
earn God's love throughperformance rather than just
accepting his grace freely.
Jesus's words will challengeeach of us, I believe.
(11:11):
Are we willing to let go of ourpride, self-reliance to embrace
humility and the trust of achild.
And I think for a lot of us, ifwe are being honest, the
initial reaction is no.
Why would I give those thingsup?
I've worked so hard for myindependence, for my
self-sufficiency, why would Iturn those things away?
Well, jesus is going to addresskind of that thinking as well.
(11:37):
Once a religious leader askedJesus this question good teacher
, what should I do to inheriteternal life?
Now Jesus says why do you callme good?
Only God is truly good.
But to answer your question,you know the commandments you
must not commit adultery, youmust not murder, you must not
steal, you must not testifyfalsely, honor your father and
mother.
Now the man replied I've obeyedall these commands since I was
(12:00):
young.
And when Jesus heard his answerhe said when the rich man heard
this, he became very sad, forhe was very rich.
When Jesus saw this, he saidhow hard is it?
(12:24):
It is for the rich to enter thekingdom of God.
In fact it is easier for acamel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a rich personto enter the kingdom of God.
So we've got a guy here.
He approaches Jesus, he kind oftries to butter him up, which
is why Jesus responds the waythat he does.
Jesus isn't trying to deny hisdeity when he says only God is
good.
He's actually saying stopsucking up Like I'm just going
(12:46):
to cut you off right there.
What is it you want?
And he said how do I inheriteternal life?
And Jesus does something thatthey would have known.
This is the law.
Don't do this, don't do this,don't do this.
He says, well, wouldn't youknow?
I haven't done those things.
Or I'm a good person.
And Jesus says, yes, he doesn'tdispute it.
Yes, you're correct, but youknow, there's still one thing
(13:07):
you haven't done and you got allof this wealth.
I want you to actually justgive that all away.
Now let's explain this for asecond, because I think this is
one of those passages in ourtime that gets misquoted or
ripped out of context.
The first thing is that inJewish thought, wealth was seen
as a sign of God's blessing, sothe fact that he was wealthy
(13:28):
would have indicated he was agood person in their thinking.
Are you following?
So when he says, no, I haven'tcommitted adultery, I haven't
murdered, I haven't stolen, thenatural conclusion was yeah, of
course not.
I mean, obviously you're rich,god is blessing you because
you're a good person.
That's what they meant.
Financial success was divinefavor.
(13:50):
So when Jesus says how hard itis for the rich to enter the
kingdom of God, this wasn't likenecessarily shade at a rich
person.
Understand how scary it wouldbe if you were a poor person, if
you were Peter listening in andyou didn't have anything and
you're like I've been told, ifyou're a good person you get
money.
(14:10):
And now Jesus just said a goodperson who has a lot of money,
it's hard for him to get it.
So Peter's thinking what have Idone the last three years
Following this guy around?
I have no chance.
Because there's no chance.
A camel can get through an eyeof a needle.
And if that's the good example,where am I at in this equation?
I mean there's no.
I don't think it's anover-exaggeration to say that
(14:31):
this was probably one of themost traumatizing teachings
these guys had heard lately.
Jesus is essentially sayinglike you ain't got a chance if
it's up to you.
But what Jesus was trying to dowas turn their ideas and their
understanding of success upsidedown.
Jesus' challenge wasn't aboutmoney alone.
It wasn't about money alone.
This passage is aboutallegiance.
(14:53):
The ruler wasn't asked.
He said don't just be generous,but let go of what you trust in
the most.
His wealth wasn't just hispossession, it was his identity
and security.
So much so that when Luke goesback in the past and right,
luke's the historian, he's theinvestigator, he's looking back,
he's like and now, whathappened here?
Now, what happened here?
(15:13):
All we know, we don't know thisguy's name, all we know is he's
rich.
It was his identity that whenLuke is asking questions like,
oh yeah, that guy I don't reallyremember his name, but man, he
was loaded.
And this is how thatconversation went.
His wealth wasn't just apossession, this is what he
found his security in.
And Jesus saw that he wasn'tsaying having the money was
(15:36):
wrong.
He was talking to this specificperson and said you don't trust
me, you're not going to followme, you're not going to inherit
the kingdom of heaven, becausethat's not what you trust in,
that's not what you believe in,that's not what you want the
most.
And many today, you and me weplace our trust in wealth or
success or control rather thanin God.
(15:59):
I think about the career-drivenachiever who finds their
identity in the promotions andstatuses, making it hard to
surrender ambition for the sakeof faith.
That would definitely havedescribed me before doing this
work full-time.
Loved getting the promotionsand the pats on the back and
breaking sales records andcutting costs and being
recognized for that.
(16:19):
But it was like can I give thatup?
Can I surrender my ambition forwhat God has for me?
Instead, you might be a comfortseeker, clinging to financial
security or a predictable lifeand you resist Jesus's call to
radical generosity and trust.
Well, if I give this away, thatmeans I don't have it anymore.
That's the dilemma of the richruler.
(16:40):
Right, I don't have it anymore.
That's the dilemma of the richruler.
Right, I won't have it anymore.
And Jesus says yep, what areyou going to do?
The control-dependent person,the planner, who struggles to
follow God.
When following God leads to anuncertain place, you prefer
stability rather than surrender.
And God's not exactly tellingyou where the destination is or
(17:01):
how the journey is going to be.
He just sometimes points andsays this way, I can't be right,
jesus' challenge remains thesame for us.
What are we holding on to?
That's been the question of theday.
What are we holding on to thatkeeps us from fully trusting
Jesus, and I hope that what wesee is that for all of us.
It's something.
(17:22):
I'm not trying to pick on you,I'm not trying to pick on myself
.
It's an easy message to thinkthat this is pointed at you or
man.
It's guilty.
It's not that.
All of us in the room, we'rehuman, and whether it's control
or stability, or we find stuffin wealth or success, we all
struggle with trusting somethingthat we can get our hands on
(17:43):
rather than trusting theintangible Spirit of God.
Throughout these passages,jesus overturns expectations and
he's redefining righteousness,worth and the kingdom of God.
In this story that we read today, the Pharisee is rejected and
it's a tax collector who isjustified.
Children are models of faith,and a wealthy, moral man walks
(18:07):
away from eternal life.
Though our cultural context haschanged, the heart issues
remain the same.
Today, we may not assume wealthis proof of God's blessing.
I think we don't think that atall anymore, but we still
wrestle with materialism andsecurity.
We don't despise tax collectors, but we do look down on certain
(18:31):
people, people who don't looklike us, or people who aren't
like us, or people who do thingsthat we don't understand or are
from somewhere else orsomething else.
We value children and yet weresist depending on God like
children.
At the core of this passage.
It challenges our heart.
Posture before God, thePharisee trusted in his merit,
(18:53):
the rich ruler in his wealth,and even the disciples struggled
to grasp the radical nature ofGod's kingdom.
It was the tax collector, thechildren and those willing to
surrender who were the ones whoreceived God's kingdom.
And so, as we've donethroughout this whole series,
here are some things for us toconsider as we think about the
(19:13):
challenges of what Jesus issaying.
And how can I put this intopractice in my own life?
And the first thing is topractice humility.
Can you just stop measuringyour worth against others?
And how can I put this intopractice in my own life?
And the first thing is topractice humility.
Can you just stop measuringyour worth against others?
True righteousness is not aboutbeing better than anyone, but
recognizing our need for grace,embracing a childlike faith.
(19:33):
Can we trust in God rather thanour achievements?
Can we surrender daily inprayer, approach scripture with
an open heart and know that ourvalue comes from God and who he
says I am, not from myperformance, and who my
coworkers or my boss says that Iam?
Can we release what competesfor our trust?
(19:55):
The rich ruler's issue wasn'tmoney alone.
It was what held his heart.
What holds your heart thismorning?
Is it ambition, control,reputation, security?
We need to live generously.
If wealth and success grips ourheart, the solution, the
(20:18):
antidote, is to give freely andto invest in God's kingdom and
not into things that fade is togive freely and to invest in
God's kingdom and not intothings that fade.
We redefine success.
We stop chasing worldlyachievements.
Instead, we ask the questionGod, what is your will for my
(20:39):
life?
What do you want me to do?
Jesus forces us to confront towhat we cling to the most.
It might be our money, but fora lot of us, it's not that we
cling to the most.
It might be our money, but fora lot of us, it's not that, it's
self-sufficiency, it's pride,it's comparison.
And here's the paradox of thekingdom.
Letting go does not leave youempty.
Okay, letting go doesn't leaveyou empty.
Well, if I give up my controland I give up my ambition and I
(21:02):
give up my wealth or I give upmy status, what am I left with?
Freedom?
Honestly freedom, when you stopstriving to prove yourself.
When I stop striving to provemyself.
I find peace.
When we loosen our grip onmaterial things, we experience
contentment.
(21:22):
When we trust like children, wegain security that
circumstances just can't shake,no matter what's happening, we
still trust in our Father God.
This is what Jesus means whenhe says whoever loses their life
for my sake will find it.
Jesus offers us more, not lessFreedom from having to prove
yourself, rest from chasing whatwill never satisfy you anyway,
(21:45):
and joy from living forsomething eternal.
The only question is let's goback to it.
Will we let go and will wetrust God?
Jesus' teaching in Luke 18 isnot an isolated lesson.
It runs through the entire NewTestament.
The principle we've seen hereis very clear Salvation doesn't
(22:07):
come from status, morality orpossessions, but humble
dependence on God.
This is echoed by Paul inEphesians 2, for it is by grace.
You have been saved, throughfaith, and this is not from
yourselves.
It is a gift from God, not byworks, so that no one can boast.
Like the tax collector, wecannot justify ourselves, and
(22:30):
like the children, we must comewith nothing to offer.
And like the rich ruler, wemust ask where does our trust
reside?
Paul, who was a Pharisee atsome point in his life.
He understands this greatreversal and in Philippians he
confesses Whatever were gains tome now, I consider a loss.
(22:52):
For the sake of Christ, Hisreligious achievements meant
nothing in comparison to knowingand walking with Jesus.
This is the same lesson Jesusis teaching us today.
He says things like in Matthew 5, 3, blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is thekingdom of heaven.
(23:12):
This is the posture of the taxcollector, the children and
those in the room today arewatching or listening online who
are surrendered.
He says in Mark 10, 45, the sonof man came not to be served,
but to serve and to give hislife as a ransom.
For many, this is the ultimatepicture of the upside-down
kingdom and the invitation forus today is clear that the way
(23:34):
up is down.
The true life is found insurrender, not status.
And as we continue through thisseason of Lent and we consider
maybe not giving up thechocolate or the meat or social
media, but as we considerremoving things from our lives
that are really keeping us fromhaving a life that matters, that
(23:57):
is only found in Jesus, we askwhat are we holding on to that
keeps us from fully embracingGod's kingdom?
Are we clinging to success,comparison, self-reliance, or
will we let go and trust the onewho gave everything for us?
Jesus invites us into a life oftrue freedom and abundance, one
(24:22):
that is not defined by wealthor status, but only faith in him
.
Well welcome to Madison Church.
I'm Stephen Feith, lead pastor.
I'm glad that you're joining usonline, but want to invite you
to join us in person sometimesoon.
I was thinking this week abouthow each and every one of us, we
all, measure our personal worthby something, even if it's
different.
It might be different for you,but I think the common thing for
all of us is we're kind ofalways in a comparison mode.
(00:22):
Some of us will look toachievements, we'll compare our
achievements to others, and if Ihave more achievements than you
, I feel better than you.
Others place their trust infinancial security, believing
that stability and comfort willdefine my success, and still
others chase after status orinfluence.
(00:44):
If I just get enoughrecognition, that will prove I
have value.
Right, I mean, that's what theysaid, that I have value.
Cs Lewis puts it this way pridegets no pleasure out of having
something, only out of havingmore of it than the next man.
Most of us aren't justsatisfied with success.
(01:05):
We might have gotten the degree, we got the promotion, but we
still aren't satisfied.
We want to be better thansomeone else, anyone else.
But when we define our worth bywhat we've done, what we've
accomplished, what we possess.
We are measuring our lives bythe wrong standard.
We've been in this series ALife that Matters, in which
(01:28):
we're kind of trying to reallybreak away from these ideas.
That that's where A Life thatMatters is found.
It's not found in how muchmoney we have, how popular we
are, how many achievements thatwe've gathered throughout our
lives, but rather it's aboutfollowing Jesus.
And in today's passage we'regoing to Luke 18,.
Jesus challenges how we definenot just success but
(01:52):
righteousness and security, andthrough three different
encounters he reverses theexpectations.
You see, it was the Pharisee,was the one who was thought to
be justified, but he is notjustified.
The children are seen asinsignificant, but Jesus says no
, they're actually a model offaith.
And the rich, who in that erawere assumed to be blessed, are
(02:14):
at risk of losing eternal life.
But these stories aren't justabout them, not just about
someone else somewhere else 2000years ago.
They're about us today.
Just about someone elsesomewhere else 2,000 years ago,
they're about us today.
So I would ask you to think aswe dive into today's verses what
do you put your trust in?
(02:34):
Where do you find your security?
What makes you feel safe?
What keeps you from fullyembracing God's kingdom or God's
will in your life.
You see, the question before ustoday is not just about wealth,
humility or faith.
It's about the posture of ourhearts before God.
Will we cling to what we thinkmakes us worthy, or will we let
(03:02):
go and trust the one who trulygives us life?
This is where a life thatmatters is found, and so, as we
move through today's passage,let's be open to Jesus's
invitation to loosen our grip onwhatever we're clinging to so
often, what the world tells uswe should cling to and embrace
the upside down way of thekingdom of God.
One way that we measure ourworth, as I said, is about
comparison, and actually it maynot even be so much as like I'm
(03:26):
great because they're good andI'm better than them.
It might just be I'm acceptablebecause they're awful and I'm
better than them.
At least I'm not as bad as Juddright, for example.
Just kidding, we assume that ifwe follow the rules, we are on
the right track with God.
I did all the things I shoulddo.
I didn't do all the things Ishouldn't do.
(03:46):
I've been walking the straightand narrow and therefore I'm
good.
But Jesus tells a parable thatsays no, that is faulty thinking
.
So, beginning in verse 10 here,chapter 18, two men went to the
temple to pray.
One was a Pharisee and theother a despised tax collector.
(04:08):
The Pharisee stood by himselfand he prayed.
I thank you, god, that I'm notlike other people cheaters,
sinners, adulterers certainlynot like that tax collector over
there.
I fast twice a week and I giveyou a tenth of my income, but
(04:36):
the tax collector stood at adistance.
Jesus goes on, he says I tellyou the sinner the sinner, not
the Pharisee returned home,justified before God, for those
who exalt themselves will behumbled and those who humble
themselves will be exalted.
You'll have to remember we do.
(04:57):
We pick on the Pharisees a lot.
We live 2,000 years after them.
A lot of messages have beenspoken about them, but the
Pharisees really did in that era, represent spiritual success.
They were well-educated, theywere obedient, they were
respected religious leaders andthey followed that law with
great precision.
Now, contrast that with the taxcollector.
On the other hand, they weredespised traitors known for
(05:21):
corruption, extortion.
You could kind of compare themto like a modern day criminal
politician or like a drug cartelleader.
Nobody would expect the taxcollector to be the one in right
standing with God.
And yet the Pharisees' prayer,if you kind of picked up on it,
it was all about him, not God.
(05:44):
He trusts his own morality, hisown achievements.
It's all about him and me, andthank you, god, that I am so
awesome.
Whereas the tax collector hasnothing, and he knows he has
nothing.
As a matter of fact, you getthe sense that he doesn't even
think he's anything.
He makes no excuses, he justpleads for mercy.
(06:05):
God, have mercy on me.
I'm right here, and Jesus'sconclusion shocks the one who
looks righteous, the one you'dpoint to and say that person's
holy, he's got the job, he knowsthe stuff, that person is not
justified, whereas that otherperson, the one who seems
unworthy, that was the personwho was accepted by God.
(06:27):
Now, I know we don't havePharisees and tax collectors
today, but the heart issuesreally do remain the same.
Many of us, even those withgood intentions, we wrestle with
comparison, we struggle withself-righteousness and we
constantly misplace our trust.
So a modern Pharisee might bethe Christian who follows all of
the right religious practices,often the ones that everyone
(06:50):
else can see, but inwardly theylook down on people who don't
measure up to whatever standardthey deem is the standard.
It could be the sociallysuccessful person who equates
status with worth, while theoverlooked, those struggling to
get through every day, those whoare unseen, those who are
(07:11):
unpolished, get dismissed.
It could be the self-sufficientindividual who believes that
being a good person I'm goodenough is enough, while the
spiritually dependent personrecognizes their need for grace.
Jesus' reversal remains thesame God justifies the humble,
(07:32):
not the self-reliant.
So the question is if we'rebeing honest with ourselves
today, who do we resemble?
Do we try really hard to followthe rules that people can see
to make sure I look a certainway on the outside?
Or do we approach God inhumility and brokenness and say
(07:52):
I know I'm not good enough and Iknow I'll never be good enough,
but God have mercy.
Now.
If the Pharisee's problem wasentrusting himself, this next
passage pushes the questionfurther.
What does true faith then looklike?
Jesus switches from religiouspride to humility of children.
(08:13):
If justification comes not fromself-righteousness what I do,
how I think, what I believe butfrom a humble heart, who can
better model that for us thanchildren?
Jesus calls the children and hesays to the disciples let the
children come to me, Don't stopthem, for the kingdom of God
belongs to those who are likethese children.
I tell you the truth anyone whodoesn't receive the kingdom of
(08:34):
God like a child will neverenter it.
Now, not a lot's changed in thissense.
In 2000 years, jewish children,the Jewish world children, were
cherished by families.
In today's society, we cherishchildren, but let's also be real
.
They are weak, they aredependent, they are annoying and
they are powerless.
And that was how it was.
2,000 years ago also, thedisciples, reflecting their
(08:58):
culture, tried to turn kids away.
They're kids and they're tryingto get to Jesus, so they're too
insignificant.
Don't you know who this guy is?
He walks on water and he healspeople, and he's the Messiah.
He doesn't got time for you,you have no knowledge, you have
no achievements, you have noinfluence.
But Jesus flips theirexpectation.
He says no, no, no, I'm not toobusy for them, I'm not too big
(09:20):
for them, I'm not too importantfor them.
He says bring them here, let mebe with them.
He welcomes them and heactually goes a step further.
He doesn't just say no, I canclear a little time out of my
schedule for them.
He says this is who the kingdomof God belongs to, not the
Pharisee waving his arms at thetemple, tithing, fasting, not
(09:42):
him, but these little kids.
And if you've ever met a littlekid like these guys are selfish
and inconsiderate, right.
I've got three of them livingat my house right now for at
least a few more years.
Jesus makes it anyone.
He makes it stronger.
He says anyone who does notreceive the kingdom like this
will not enter it.
Now let's be clear.
Jesus isn't celebrating likeimmaturity or anything.
(10:05):
He isn't saying that we must bechildish.
He is saying we must bechildlike, completely dependent
on God, fully trusting in God,eager to receive grace, not earn
it.
And in our world, which valuesself-sufficiency and expertise,
(10:27):
jesus calls us to embrace ratherthe opposite of those things a
childlike faith, one that trusts, one that's dependent, one
that's receptive.
I think in our modern society,the skeptical intellectual who
struggles to accept faithwithout having all of the
answers, resisting thesimplicity of trusting in God.
(10:48):
I think of the self-madeindividual who takes pride in
their independence but finds itdifficult to surrender control
to God's provision.
And even the perfectionistbeliever is out here, trying to
earn God's love throughperformance rather than just
accepting his grace freely.
Jesus's words will challengeeach of us, I believe.
(11:11):
Are we willing to let go of ourpride, self-reliance to embrace
humility and the trust of achild.
And I think for a lot of us, ifwe are being honest, the
initial reaction is no.
Why would I give those thingsup?
I've worked so hard for myindependence, for my
self-sufficiency, why would Iturn those things away?
Well, jesus is going to addresskind of that thinking as well.
(11:37):
Once a religious leader askedJesus this question good teacher
, what should I do to inheriteternal life?
Now Jesus says why do you callme good?
Only God is truly good.
But to answer your question,you know the commandments you
must not commit adultery, youmust not murder, you must not
steal, you must not testifyfalsely, honor your father and
mother.
Now the man replied I've obeyedall these commands since I was
(12:00):
young.
And when Jesus heard his answerhe said when the rich man heard
this, he became very sad, forhe was very rich.
When Jesus saw this, he saidhow hard is it?
(12:24):
It is for the rich to enter thekingdom of God.
In fact it is easier for acamel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a rich personto enter the kingdom of God.
So we've got a guy here.
He approaches Jesus, he kind oftries to butter him up, which
is why Jesus responds the waythat he does.
Jesus isn't trying to deny hisdeity when he says only God is
good.
He's actually saying stopsucking up Like I'm just going
(12:46):
to cut you off right there.
What is it you want?
And he said how do I inheriteternal life?
And Jesus does something thatthey would have known.
This is the law.
Don't do this, don't do this,don't do this.
He says, well, wouldn't youknow?
I haven't done those things.
Or I'm a good person.
And Jesus says, yes, he doesn'tdispute it.
Yes, you're correct, but youknow, there's still one thing
(13:07):
you haven't done and you got allof this wealth.
I want you to actually justgive that all away.
Now let's explain this for asecond, because I think this is
one of those passages in ourtime that gets misquoted or
ripped out of context.
The first thing is that inJewish thought, wealth was seen
as a sign of God's blessing, sothe fact that he was wealthy
(13:28):
would have indicated he was agood person in their thinking.
Are you following?
So when he says, no, I haven'tcommitted adultery, I haven't
murdered, I haven't stolen, thenatural conclusion was yeah, of
course not.
I mean, obviously you're rich,god is blessing you because
you're a good person.
That's what they meant.
Financial success was divinefavor.
(13:50):
So when Jesus says how hard itis for the rich to enter the
kingdom of God, this wasn't likenecessarily shade at a rich
person.
Understand how scary it wouldbe if you were a poor person, if
you were Peter listening in andyou didn't have anything and
you're like I've been told, ifyou're a good person you get
money.
(14:10):
And now Jesus just said a goodperson who has a lot of money,
it's hard for him to get it.
So Peter's thinking what have Idone the last three years
Following this guy around?
I have no chance.
Because there's no chance.
A camel can get through an eyeof a needle.
And if that's the good example,where am I at in this equation?
I mean there's no.
I don't think it's anover-exaggeration to say that
(14:31):
this was probably one of themost traumatizing teachings
these guys had heard lately.
Jesus is essentially sayinglike you ain't got a chance if
it's up to you.
But what Jesus was trying to dowas turn their ideas and their
understanding of success upsidedown.
Jesus' challenge wasn't aboutmoney alone.
It wasn't about money alone.
This passage is aboutallegiance.
(14:53):
The ruler wasn't asked.
He said don't just be generous,but let go of what you trust in
the most.
His wealth wasn't just hispossession, it was his identity
and security.
So much so that when Luke goesback in the past and right,
luke's the historian, he's theinvestigator, he's looking back,
he's like and now, whathappened here?
Now, what happened here?
(15:13):
All we know, we don't know thisguy's name, all we know is he's
rich.
It was his identity that whenLuke is asking questions like,
oh yeah, that guy I don't reallyremember his name, but man, he
was loaded.
And this is how thatconversation went.
His wealth wasn't just apossession, this is what he
found his security in.
And Jesus saw that he wasn'tsaying having the money was
(15:36):
wrong.
He was talking to this specificperson and said you don't trust
me, you're not going to followme, you're not going to inherit
the kingdom of heaven, becausethat's not what you trust in,
that's not what you believe in,that's not what you want the
most.
And many today, you and me weplace our trust in wealth or
success or control rather thanin God.
(15:59):
I think about the career-drivenachiever who finds their
identity in the promotions andstatuses, making it hard to
surrender ambition for the sakeof faith.
That would definitely havedescribed me before doing this
work full-time.
Loved getting the promotionsand the pats on the back and
breaking sales records andcutting costs and being
recognized for that.
(16:19):
But it was like can I give thatup?
Can I surrender my ambition forwhat God has for me?
Instead, you might be a comfortseeker, clinging to financial
security or a predictable lifeand you resist Jesus's call to
radical generosity and trust.
Well, if I give this away, thatmeans I don't have it anymore.
That's the dilemma of the richruler.
(16:40):
Right, I don't have it anymore.
That's the dilemma of the richruler.
Right, I won't have it anymore.
And Jesus says yep, what areyou going to do?
The control-dependent person,the planner, who struggles to
follow God.
When following God leads to anuncertain place, you prefer
stability rather than surrender.
And God's not exactly tellingyou where the destination is or
(17:01):
how the journey is going to be.
He just sometimes points andsays this way, I can't be right,
jesus' challenge remains thesame for us.
What are we holding on to?
That's been the question of theday.
What are we holding on to thatkeeps us from fully trusting
Jesus, and I hope that what wesee is that for all of us.
It's something.
(17:22):
I'm not trying to pick on you,I'm not trying to pick on myself
.
It's an easy message to thinkthat this is pointed at you or
man.
It's guilty.
It's not that.
All of us in the room, we'rehuman, and whether it's control
or stability, or we find stuffin wealth or success, we all
struggle with trusting somethingthat we can get our hands on
(17:43):
rather than trusting theintangible Spirit of God.
Throughout these passages,jesus overturns expectations and
he's redefining righteousness,worth and the kingdom of God.
In this story that we read today, the Pharisee is rejected and
it's a tax collector who isjustified.
Children are models of faith,and a wealthy, moral man walks
(18:07):
away from eternal life.
Though our cultural context haschanged, the heart issues
remain the same.
Today, we may not assume wealthis proof of God's blessing.
I think we don't think that atall anymore, but we still
wrestle with materialism andsecurity.
We don't despise tax collectors, but we do look down on certain
(18:31):
people, people who don't looklike us, or people who aren't
like us, or people who do thingsthat we don't understand or are
from somewhere else orsomething else.
We value children and yet weresist depending on God like
children.
At the core of this passage.
It challenges our heart.
Posture before God, thePharisee trusted in his merit,
(18:53):
the rich ruler in his wealth,and even the disciples struggled
to grasp the radical nature ofGod's kingdom.
It was the tax collector, thechildren and those willing to
surrender who were the ones whoreceived God's kingdom.
And so, as we've donethroughout this whole series,
here are some things for us toconsider as we think about the
(19:13):
challenges of what Jesus issaying.
And how can I put this intopractice in my own life?
And the first thing is topractice humility.
Can you just stop measuringyour worth against others?
And how can I put this intopractice in my own life?
And the first thing is topractice humility.
Can you just stop measuringyour worth against others?
True righteousness is not aboutbeing better than anyone, but
recognizing our need for grace,embracing a childlike faith.
(19:33):
Can we trust in God rather thanour achievements?
Can we surrender daily inprayer, approach scripture with
an open heart and know that ourvalue comes from God and who he
says I am, not from myperformance, and who my
coworkers or my boss says that Iam?
Can we release what competesfor our trust?
(19:55):
The rich ruler's issue wasn'tmoney alone.
It was what held his heart.
What holds your heart thismorning?
Is it ambition, control,reputation, security?
We need to live generously.
If wealth and success grips ourheart, the solution, the
(20:18):
antidote, is to give freely andto invest in God's kingdom and
not into things that fade is togive freely and to invest in
God's kingdom and not intothings that fade.
We redefine success.
We stop chasing worldlyachievements.
Instead, we ask the questionGod, what is your will for my
(20:39):
life?
What do you want me to do?
Jesus forces us to confront towhat we cling to the most.
It might be our money, but fora lot of us, it's not that we
cling to the most.
It might be our money, but fora lot of us, it's not that, it's
self-sufficiency, it's pride,it's comparison.
And here's the paradox of thekingdom.
Letting go does not leave youempty.
Okay, letting go doesn't leaveyou empty.
Well, if I give up my controland I give up my ambition and I
(21:02):
give up my wealth or I give upmy status, what am I left with?
Freedom?
Honestly freedom, when you stopstriving to prove yourself.
When I stop striving to provemyself.
I find peace.
When we loosen our grip onmaterial things, we experience
contentment.
(21:22):
When we trust like children, wegain security that
circumstances just can't shake,no matter what's happening, we
still trust in our Father God.
This is what Jesus means whenhe says whoever loses their life
for my sake will find it.
Jesus offers us more, not lessFreedom from having to prove
yourself, rest from chasing whatwill never satisfy you anyway,
(21:45):
and joy from living forsomething eternal.
The only question is let's goback to it.
Will we let go and will wetrust God?
Jesus' teaching in Luke 18 isnot an isolated lesson.
It runs through the entire NewTestament.
The principle we've seen hereis very clear Salvation doesn't
(22:07):
come from status, morality orpossessions, but humble
dependence on God.
This is echoed by Paul inEphesians 2, for it is by grace.
You have been saved, throughfaith, and this is not from
yourselves.
It is a gift from God, not byworks, so that no one can boast.
Like the tax collector, wecannot justify ourselves, and
(22:30):
like the children, we must comewith nothing to offer.
And like the rich ruler, wemust ask where does our trust
reside?
Paul, who was a Pharisee atsome point in his life.
He understands this greatreversal and in Philippians he
confesses Whatever were gains tome now, I consider a loss.
(22:52):
For the sake of Christ, Hisreligious achievements meant
nothing in comparison to knowingand walking with Jesus.
This is the same lesson Jesusis teaching us today.
He says things like in Matthew 5, 3, blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is thekingdom of heaven.
(23:12):
This is the posture of the taxcollector, the children and
those in the room today arewatching or listening online who
are surrendered.
He says in Mark 10, 45, the sonof man came not to be served,
but to serve and to give hislife as a ransom.
For many, this is the ultimatepicture of the upside-down
kingdom and the invitation forus today is clear that the way
(23:34):
up is down.
The true life is found insurrender, not status.
And as we continue through thisseason of Lent and we consider
maybe not giving up thechocolate or the meat or social
media, but as we considerremoving things from our lives
that are really keeping us fromhaving a life that matters, that
(23:57):
is only found in Jesus, we askwhat are we holding on to that
keeps us from fully embracingGod's kingdom?
Are we clinging to success,comparison, self-reliance, or
will we let go and trust the onewho gave everything for us?
Jesus invites us into a life oftrue freedom and abundance, one
(24:22):
that is not defined by wealthor status, but only faith in him
.
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