Luke 18:9-14 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
God accepts a man who accepts his faults and weaknesses, and abhors one who considers himself flawless and without fault. No man is perfect, and therefore God dislikes it when a man begins to consider his way perfect. God looks past what we regard as good, and looks into our very heart. He sees through false pretences, and hidden reasons for actions. Ananias and Saphira wanted to impress men, so they lied about the money they were offering to God. They claimed it was the total amount of money they got from the sale of a land. But it was untrue. It was only a percentage of the total amount they had received. Their lies and pretence annoyed God who slain them dead - Acts 5.
Jesus witnessed men giving their offerings. Some gave huge amounts, and one widow gave only two mites - And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21:1-4. God looks past the showy things, right into the very hearts of men. Why is someone showing care, is it for the praises of men? God looks at what we give, whether it is our best, and out of a genuine heart. God looks past the things that influences men, He sees into our very heart!
Pray to God to clean your heart and grant you a right spirit at all times. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
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