Luke 18:10-12
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
When we were kids, other children would call the children with glasses "four eyes". They would say, "Here comes ol' four eyes". Children can sometimes be a little mean with their sayings. Well in looking at this scripture today, Here comes ol' five eyes...
It says two men went to pray; and the one a "only can see himself" Pharisee. Look at what he says... "I" thank thee that "I" am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. "I" fast twice in the week, "I" give tithes of all that "I" possess.
There is not much that gets to me more than that kind of attitude. It's the spirit of "ol' five eyes". We should never point to us in every sentence. You can see that this man never went home justified when he prayed because he bragged on every work he could think of. He was the type of man who would never let you speak and if you did something great, he would have done it twice. If you would have given $100 in the plate because God placed that on your heart to give, she would give $200 just in order to give more than you. Our lives as Christians shouldn't point to the things we do. Let me say it like this... Many people often tell me things like, "I loved the message this morning, you are great". Although I know what they're intentions are, I always point up and say, "It's all Him".
We should thank God that we are not as other men (because He has made us different). We should thank God that we aren't waking in sin (like we used too). We should thank God for His closeness when we fast (and not brag or blab about it). We should praise God that we have an opportunity to tithe of the blessings He has given us (because they are not our possessions but His)
Sometimes when ol' five eyes shows up I quietly lean over to my wife and say... "Well, the I's have it".
