Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Lost and Found, Part 61 of 78

TEXT: "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found' " (Luke 15:25-32).

IDEA: A first symptom of self-righteousness is an over-inflated estimate of ourselves.

PURPOSE: To help people be aware of the disease of self-righteousness in their lives.

What is the difference between self-respect and self-righteousness?

This is an important question because self-righteousness is condemned in the Scripture, but self-respect is needed in life. It’s important to distinguish the one from the other.

The second part of the story of the prodigal son is a case study in self-righteousness. That may give us some clues.

What are the symptoms of self-righteousness?

The first is a sense of being ignored or treated unfairly.

A second symptom is an over-inflated view of ourselves.

See this in the story in Luke 15:25-32:
"Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' "

Notice how the elder son praises his own efforts:

“Lo, I have served you all these many years.” He has made all the contribution to his father.

“And I never disobeyed you.” Certainly that isn’t true. It is easy for self-righteous people to overestimate their goodness and not see the cesspool in their lives.

Notice that he gives no credit to the father:

There is no recognition of what he has learned from his father. He doesn’t talk about the advantages that he has been given and how much benefit has been his.

It is remarkable how he can conveniently forget the many times the father has forgiven him for his disobedience and he has been restored. Many Christians have “heard” about forgiveness. They take it for granted. God is always there, and He doesn’t take “little” sins seriously. The wonder of forgiveness becomes a banality.

Self-righteous people don’t take their own sin seriously. They are very aware of other people’s sins. At the start of the day, take time to think of your sin—look inside your heart—and know that you are forgiven.

What, then, is the difference between self-respect and self-righteousness?