June 17, 2024
QUICK THOUGHT: The Idol of Self
This is another experiment, and I talk about the idol of self.
Be good and do good.
Chapters
00:08 - Understanding Idolatry and Self-Righteousness
07:19 - Reclaiming Humility and Seeking Truth
Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:08.451 --> 00:00:09.772
Welcome to Balancing the Christian Life.
00:00:09.772 --> 00:00:10.333
Quick Thoughts.
00:00:10.333 --> 00:00:11.714
I'm Dr Kenny Embry.
00:00:11.714 --> 00:00:15.208
Join me as we figure out what it means to live as Christians.
00:00:16.431 --> 00:00:24.015
Idolatry in the Old Testament is easy to identify because anytime the Israelites got stuff, they started making things to worship.
00:00:24.015 --> 00:00:29.228
The first three commandments are specific about condemning the particulars of idolatry.
00:00:29.228 --> 00:00:39.704
They could have no other gods, they couldn't make anything that was supposed to represent a god, and they should not enter into a commitment to God lightly.
00:00:39.704 --> 00:00:56.673
I've done a pretty good job of avoiding making a golden calf or bowing down before a bull, but if idolatry is replacing God with something that shouldn't be there, well, my idol isn't barnyard animals but the face looking back at me when I'm shaving.
00:00:56.673 --> 00:01:03.372
Selfishness is a pretty elusive idol because it loves to masquerade itself as Christian virtue.
00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:10.933
In Luke 18, jesus tells a story about a Pharisee and a tax collector who went to the temple to pray.
00:01:10.933 --> 00:01:19.555
You already know the outcome to this parable, but let me get you to slow down a little before you jump to Jesus' conclusion.
00:01:19.555 --> 00:01:29.334
First, both men went to the temple to talk to God, whom they both believed in.
00:01:29.334 --> 00:01:37.414
Both also believed God was in control and that God changes things.
00:01:37.414 --> 00:01:44.253
Good, that's the right action and the right motivation for both these guys.
00:01:44.253 --> 00:02:02.147
And here is the prayer of the Pharisee God, I thank you that I am not like other men extortioners, unjust adulterers and even like this tax collector.
00:02:02.147 --> 00:02:04.992
I fast twice a week.
00:02:04.992 --> 00:02:08.408
I give tithes of all that I get.
00:02:08.408 --> 00:02:15.152
First, did Jesus say he wasn't doing exactly what he said he was?
00:02:15.152 --> 00:02:21.793
Frankly, I don't do many of the things this Pharisee did, like fasting or tithing.
00:02:21.793 --> 00:02:27.228
Second, the Pharisee expressed gratitude.
00:02:27.228 --> 00:02:31.074
He was truly thankful.
00:02:31.074 --> 00:02:33.443
What made him thankful?
00:02:33.443 --> 00:02:57.664
Well, it was because he was following God's instructions on fasting, giving of his income, being fair in business, not being a liar, not being sexually promiscuous and, unlike the reputation of the tax collectors, not being someone who betrayed the children of God by making alliances with a corrupt government like Rome.
00:02:57.664 --> 00:03:05.455
Tax collectors had a bad reputation, mostly because they deserved a bad reputation.
00:03:05.455 --> 00:03:11.051
They did bad things that sometimes got other people killed.
00:03:11.051 --> 00:03:14.008
What part of this are you against?
00:03:14.008 --> 00:03:17.149
Are you against the Pharisee being grateful?
00:03:17.149 --> 00:03:19.647
Are you against telling the truth?
00:03:19.647 --> 00:03:23.790
Are you against devoting yourself to God by fasting?
00:03:23.790 --> 00:03:27.050
Are you against refraining from being sexually promiscuous?
00:03:27.050 --> 00:03:35.768
Look, the Pharisee was grateful for being someone who could keep God's law, which gave him a good character.
00:03:35.768 --> 00:03:45.629
I realize Jesus invented this character, but I know lots of people like this who are grateful to God that following his law makes us better people.
00:03:45.629 --> 00:03:48.284
I know them because I'm one of them.
00:03:48.284 --> 00:03:52.580
I think following God's laws keeps me from a host of problems.
00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:55.585
But what is Jesus' criticism?
00:03:56.967 --> 00:04:02.895
The Pharisee trusted he could and had kept God's law.
00:04:02.895 --> 00:04:09.066
He could and had kept God's law and because he kept God's law, he was doing the right thing.
00:04:09.066 --> 00:04:11.647
And that made him righteous.
00:04:11.647 --> 00:04:13.150
By the way, that's right.
00:04:13.150 --> 00:04:16.932
Righteousness, by definition, is doing the right thing.
00:04:16.932 --> 00:04:20.355
And that made him proud.
00:04:20.355 --> 00:04:25.523
That gave him confidence.
00:04:25.523 --> 00:04:26.946
Did you notice, jesus said?
00:04:26.946 --> 00:04:30.293
He stood by himself and prayed.
00:04:30.293 --> 00:04:36.166
He came to God, confident in his standing with God.
00:04:36.166 --> 00:04:44.028
He was ready to be judged because he looked at God's standards and judged he had done well.
00:04:44.028 --> 00:04:57.007
His problem was his confidence in his ability or, as the passage tells us, he trusted in his own righteousness and treated others poorly.
00:04:57.007 --> 00:05:04.764
He knew the tax collector next to him not personally, but only by reputation of the profession.
00:05:06.074 --> 00:05:07.942
The Pharisee's problem was self-righteousness.
00:05:07.942 --> 00:05:16.447
He was so wrapped up in godly virtue he had assumed the role of God himself and judged himself righteous.
00:05:16.447 --> 00:05:23.067
The easy answer to this is to judge ourselves by God's standard instead of our own.
00:05:23.067 --> 00:05:25.800
That is absolutely the right answer.
00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:27.526
But how do you do that?
00:05:27.526 --> 00:05:32.887
Was the Pharisee able to see past his own judgments of how he interpreted God's law?
00:05:32.887 --> 00:05:40.838
Of how he interpreted God's law?
00:05:40.838 --> 00:05:43.223
In one of his own defenses, Paul says that he had always served God in good conscience.
00:05:43.223 --> 00:05:49.939
Even when he was doing the wrong thing by killing Christians, he felt like he was serving God rightly.
00:05:51.562 --> 00:05:55.809
I don't know about you, but I don't consider myself as good as Paul.
00:05:55.809 --> 00:05:59.596
So are we just doomed?
00:05:59.596 --> 00:06:07.841
First of all, remember we are not saved by righteousness, we're saved by grace.
00:06:07.841 --> 00:06:11.223
We never earn a relationship with God.
00:06:11.223 --> 00:06:17.869
That relationship is based on the faith we have in God and the devotion we have to each other.
00:06:17.869 --> 00:06:20.790
Can we sin all the more that grace may abound?
00:06:20.790 --> 00:06:22.192
No, no, no, no, no.
00:06:22.192 --> 00:06:30.237
But if you think you are behaving yourself into a good relationship with God, you're missing the point.
00:06:30.237 --> 00:06:32.281
We are sinners because we have sinned.
00:06:32.281 --> 00:06:39.449
We are redeemed because God redeemed us, not because we haven't sinned.
00:06:46.595 --> 00:06:47.478
Second, consider your standards.
00:06:47.478 --> 00:06:48.463
There's wisdom in examining yourself by yourself.
00:06:48.463 --> 00:06:52.982
If you measure how well you're behaving as a Christian today versus how well you were a Christian yesterday, you're gauging progress.
00:06:52.982 --> 00:06:59.180
But you also need to measure yourself against the perfect standard the standard you will never measure up to.
00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:05.259
You need to know God well enough to know how far short you fail.
00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:11.216
That still means you have to interpret God's will, and we don't always do that well.
00:07:11.216 --> 00:07:18.408
But as you progress in your relationship with God, hopefully you grow in understanding him better.
00:07:19.555 --> 00:07:25.687
Further, are we open to being challenged by even people we disagree with?
00:07:25.687 --> 00:07:31.767
The Pharisees didn't agree with Jesus, and that was a problem.
00:07:31.767 --> 00:07:35.204
They didn't have a good reason to disagree with him.
00:07:35.204 --> 00:07:40.139
They never checked his facts, they just assumed he had been wrong.
00:07:40.139 --> 00:07:42.946
Because, well, they never checked his facts.
00:07:42.946 --> 00:07:45.137
They just assumed he had to be wrong.
00:07:45.137 --> 00:07:48.776
Because, well, most people who went against the Jewish leaders were wrong.
00:07:49.877 --> 00:07:52.201
Next, what do we get out of it?
00:07:52.201 --> 00:07:57.829
Just because you get praise or recognition doesn't mean it's wrong.
00:07:57.829 --> 00:08:01.925
When the Israelites obeyed God, they were praised.
00:08:01.925 --> 00:08:03.980
That's a very good thing.
00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:06.855
But who is doing the praising?
00:08:06.855 --> 00:08:16.250
And are we in it to get closer to God, or are we in it to have someone tell us we're doing the right thing?
00:08:16.250 --> 00:08:22.451
Finally, is there someone whose opinion you trust to challenge you?
00:08:22.451 --> 00:08:26.882
Jesus challenged the Pharisees and Paul.
00:08:26.882 --> 00:08:37.207
The Pharisees largely resisted and Paul, blind and mute, learned how to stop listening to himself and start listening to God.
00:08:38.816 --> 00:08:46.679
Of all the idols, the idol of selfishness is the one I fear most, because it is the idol I often recognize least.
00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:49.527
Let's take this to God.
00:08:49.527 --> 00:08:58.682
God, we often get in our own way, we mislead ourselves and we ask that when we are on the wrong road, you would send us others who challenge our thinking.
00:08:58.682 --> 00:09:02.336
We pray for failure when we are self-deluded.
00:09:02.336 --> 00:09:09.089
Help us to never attack others out of reaction and, even when we are attacked, to love those who are on the assault.
00:09:09.089 --> 00:09:12.344
Likewise, help us to be that for others.
00:09:13.375 --> 00:09:16.966
We all have blind spots when it comes to being self-righteous.
00:09:16.966 --> 00:09:19.462
We do pray for righteousness.
00:09:19.462 --> 00:09:24.623
We pray we are right, but help us to keep our egos in check.
00:09:24.623 --> 00:09:31.957
Remind us that being right simply means we're closer to you, but we are not you.
00:09:31.957 --> 00:09:40.190
You are truly the only one who is always righteous because you are always right.
00:09:40.190 --> 00:09:45.884
Put us in our place and help us to rely on you more.
00:09:45.884 --> 00:10:00.206
Help us to love you more, because you love us even when we're stupid, even when we fail and even when we dethrone you from where you rightfully belong.
00:10:00.206 --> 00:10:02.158
We pray.
00:10:02.158 --> 00:10:07.524
We avoid all idolatry, but help us to avoid worshiping ourselves.
00:10:07.524 --> 00:10:15.826
Idolatry, but help us to avoid worshiping ourselves, because we cannot have a closer relationship with you when we assume your place.
00:10:15.826 --> 00:10:16.106
We love you.
00:10:16.106 --> 00:10:20.038
Help us to show that more In our King's name, amen.
00:10:20.038 --> 00:10:24.589
Now let's be good and do good.
00:00:08.451 --> 00:00:09.772
00:00:09.772 --> 00:00:10.333
00:00:10.333 --> 00:00:11.714
00:00:11.714 --> 00:00:15.208
00:00:16.431 --> 00:00:24.015
00:00:24.015 --> 00:00:29.228
00:00:29.228 --> 00:00:39.704
00:00:39.704 --> 00:00:56.673
00:00:56.673 --> 00:01:03.372
00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:10.933
00:01:10.933 --> 00:01:19.555
00:01:19.555 --> 00:01:29.334
00:01:29.334 --> 00:01:37.414
00:01:37.414 --> 00:01:44.253
00:01:44.253 --> 00:02:02.147
00:02:02.147 --> 00:02:04.992
00:02:04.992 --> 00:02:08.408
00:02:08.408 --> 00:02:15.152
00:02:15.152 --> 00:02:21.793
00:02:21.793 --> 00:02:27.228
00:02:27.228 --> 00:02:31.074
00:02:31.074 --> 00:02:33.443
00:02:33.443 --> 00:02:57.664
00:02:57.664 --> 00:03:05.455
00:03:05.455 --> 00:03:11.051
00:03:11.051 --> 00:03:14.008
00:03:14.008 --> 00:03:17.149
00:03:17.149 --> 00:03:19.647
00:03:19.647 --> 00:03:23.790
00:03:23.790 --> 00:03:27.050
00:03:27.050 --> 00:03:35.768
00:03:35.768 --> 00:03:45.629
00:03:45.629 --> 00:03:48.284
00:03:48.284 --> 00:03:52.580
00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:55.585
00:03:56.967 --> 00:04:02.895
00:04:02.895 --> 00:04:09.066
00:04:09.066 --> 00:04:11.647
00:04:11.647 --> 00:04:13.150
00:04:13.150 --> 00:04:16.932
00:04:16.932 --> 00:04:20.355
00:04:20.355 --> 00:04:25.523
00:04:25.523 --> 00:04:26.946
00:04:26.946 --> 00:04:30.293
00:04:30.293 --> 00:04:36.166
00:04:36.166 --> 00:04:44.028
00:04:44.028 --> 00:04:57.007
00:04:57.007 --> 00:05:04.764
00:05:06.074 --> 00:05:07.942
00:05:07.942 --> 00:05:16.447
00:05:16.447 --> 00:05:23.067
00:05:23.067 --> 00:05:25.800
00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:27.526
00:05:27.526 --> 00:05:32.887
00:05:32.887 --> 00:05:40.838
00:05:40.838 --> 00:05:43.223
00:05:43.223 --> 00:05:49.939
00:05:51.562 --> 00:05:55.809
00:05:55.809 --> 00:05:59.596
00:05:59.596 --> 00:06:07.841
00:06:07.841 --> 00:06:11.223
00:06:11.223 --> 00:06:17.869
00:06:17.869 --> 00:06:20.790
00:06:20.790 --> 00:06:22.192
00:06:22.192 --> 00:06:30.237
00:06:30.237 --> 00:06:32.281
00:06:32.281 --> 00:06:39.449
00:06:46.595 --> 00:06:47.478
00:06:47.478 --> 00:06:48.463
00:06:48.463 --> 00:06:52.982
00:06:52.982 --> 00:06:59.180
00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:05.259
00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:11.216
00:07:11.216 --> 00:07:18.408
00:07:19.555 --> 00:07:25.687
00:07:25.687 --> 00:07:31.767
00:07:31.767 --> 00:07:35.204
00:07:35.204 --> 00:07:40.139
00:07:40.139 --> 00:07:42.946
00:07:42.946 --> 00:07:45.137
00:07:45.137 --> 00:07:48.776
00:07:49.877 --> 00:07:52.201
00:07:52.201 --> 00:07:57.829
00:07:57.829 --> 00:08:01.925
00:08:01.925 --> 00:08:03.980
00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:06.855
00:08:06.855 --> 00:08:16.250
00:08:16.250 --> 00:08:22.451
00:08:22.451 --> 00:08:26.882
00:08:26.882 --> 00:08:37.207
00:08:38.816 --> 00:08:46.679
00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:49.527
00:08:49.527 --> 00:08:58.682
00:08:58.682 --> 00:09:02.336
00:09:02.336 --> 00:09:09.089
00:09:09.089 --> 00:09:12.344
00:09:13.375 --> 00:09:16.966
00:09:16.966 --> 00:09:19.462
00:09:19.462 --> 00:09:24.623
00:09:24.623 --> 00:09:31.957
00:09:31.957 --> 00:09:40.190
00:09:40.190 --> 00:09:45.884
00:09:45.884 --> 00:10:00.206
00:10:00.206 --> 00:10:02.158
00:10:02.158 --> 00:10:07.524
00:10:07.524 --> 00:10:15.826
00:10:15.826 --> 00:10:16.106
00:10:16.106 --> 00:10:20.038
00:10:20.038 --> 00:10:24.589
Listen On
Support On
