When You Are Better Than Someone Else

              When You Are Better Than Someone Else
Luke 18.9-14 October 15, 1992
Jesus is telling this story to people who trust themselves. He is speaking to us and
to our times. "Trust yourself first", is one of the axioms by which most of us live.
The main figure in the story is a Pharisee who earned the right to trust in himself.
After all having the ability to honestly trust yourself does not happen with the taking
of a pill. He was among the best educated, most thoughtful, highly ethical,
progressive, disciplined people of his time. He wore his credentials with pride. His
religious teachings attempted to bridge the gap between the teachings of his faith and
everyday life. He innovated and was open to change. He is like many women and
men who are self-directed and self-possessed — like most of us.
I. The mystery of the self!
A. All these self-directed and self-possessed selves here this morning. Perot,
Clinton, Bush, three selves.
1. It is intriguing to us! Over 600 titles dealing with the self in the
Naperville Library. Under self-help there is a book for those in career
change, for those with depression, those with asthma, colitis, and pms.
Self-help for those with child-abuse, allergies, no-fault marriages. Self-analysis,
self-esteem, self-confidence, recreating yourself are among the
offerings for those seeking to secure the self.
2. Attallah Shabazz, daughter of Malcom X: "I do not request nor do I
think my father would want you to play hooky.... Stay in school and
learn. Stay at your job and feed your family " On Spike Lee's
suggestion that black teenagers skip school to see his upcoming film
about the slain black leader.
3. I received an Advent/Christmas card three weeks ago from a person
living in Florida. In Korea Kwon Tae Young says that on October 28
trumpets will blare and white-robed angels will carry him and his wife
and three sons to heaven. Another self that is taking advantage of this
by holding people's property for them. Thank God I am not like other
people, in particular that man over there, the tax-collector. T a x -
collector, another self. He belongs to a profession known for its
corruption. He brings to God nothing but his sins.
B. What is the self? How does one esteem it? "It's how you feel about
yourself. Feel good about yourself — feel good about others. It's taking
hold of your self." High self-esteem pays dividends. People who believe
that they can control their own destiny achieve more, make more money,
are less vulnerable to being manipulated. A confident self may encourage
us not to resign ourselves to bad institutions, to persist despite initial
failures, to strive without being derailed by self-doubts.
1. The Pharisee in Jesus' parable had no self-doubts. His self had a label
— a Pharisee. This self had an identity — he was righteous, therefore
he trusted himself. This self had an attitude — he was better than
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