Coffee With The Lord

I want this to be my “work ethic”! … Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving! (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV)

An antonym… a word that has the exact opposite meaning of another word.

Today as a result of my Bible reading two such words that might qualify as antonyms came to mind: “gloat” and “grovel.” The problem is both of those words are viewed as negative human behaviors. So are they the best examples of antonyms? The first word is an ugly human behavior driven by arrogance and pride. The second is equally distasteful, and is viewed as the result of a distorted self-image.

Perhaps a more accurate antonym set would be “righteous” and “unrighteous.” One is truly a positive moral virtue (especially when it is God’s assessment of an individual and not “self-righteousness”) and the other word is expressive of a life void of righteousness (i.e. wickedness.)

The passage I read this morning that provoked these comparisons? Luke 18:9-14! Here it is…

“Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: ‘Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ [By definition a textbook case of self-righteous “gloating”!] But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner!’ [There might be some who would label that “groveling” – I think God would call it humble, authentic “repentance” and “confession of sin”]

And what did Jesus say? He declared, “I tell you, this sinner [the tax collector], not the Pharisee, returned home justified [made righteous] before God.”

Just a few additional comments on this subject… Self-righteous gloating is particularly a problem for “religious folk!” In fact, a friend of mine this week put it this way: “If you think you have it all together, and are righteous and holy, and will never fail or sin… I can hear a rooster crowing!” (And on that issue read about Peter’s experience in Mark 14:29-31 and 66-72)

In another place Jesus gave this assessment of some self-righteous “church people”…

“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked!” (The church in Laodecia Revelation 3:17 NLT)

Oh, and how did Jesus end the story of the self-righteous religious person and the despised, sinful tax-collector? He said, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted!” Gotta tell you, I want to be on the right side of that issue!

It’s a wonderful story… rich in truth and life lessons. In the Bible it’s often labeled as “The Parable of the Persistent Widow” (or “The Unjust Judge”). You really should read it yourself in the Bible… Luke 18:1-8. It’s a story that teaches by contrast more than analogy… The “unjust judge” (self-occupied, arrogant, and unwilling) in viewed in contrast to a “righteous God” (loving, righteous, and generous).

In the story a helpless widow comes time-and-again to an “unjust judge” asking for help and redress against an “adversary” who is taking advantage of her. At first the judge simply puts her off and ignores her. But she keeps coming! Finally, he tires of her coming, and in order not to be bothered by her any longer, he gives her justice and redress.

When Jesus told the story, He declared its purpose at the very beginning… that His followers “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (i.e. it’s purpose was to encourage “sustained faith” in prayer). In fact Jesus closed the story with these words: “And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry out to Him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?”

The story, which teaches by contrast, (The “unjust judge” is NOT like our “righteous Heavenly Father), is more about the character and God and the need for “sustained faith” than simply a lesson on the value of persistence (i.e. “persistence wins!”). Stories on the value of persistence are “a dime a dozen” (“we often quit to early” – we “throw in the towel” before we win).

Instead the lesson here, it seems to me, is that the Lord rewards “sustained faith!”

Here’s Bartel’s personal definition of “faith”…

Faith is confidence in God… trusting His character, believing and obeying His word, laying hold of His promises, following His leadership, and drawing upon his encouragement and strength.

Now I know that the Bible teaches it does not take a large amount of faith to gain answers to prayer and see God do great things: “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

But this story emphasizes the importance of “sustained faith!” It’s a faith that presses through, keeps believing, and keeps trusting in God and His promises regardless of the challenges, regardless of the trials, regardless of the adversaries and adversities!

So here’s my encouragement to you (and my personal resolve)… We have a faithful, righteous, loving God! Let’s keep coming to Him… keep asking… keep believing! … “sustained faith” is what we need! “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you He will give justice to them speedily! Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8)