Subtitle: We need to view our good deeds based on the opportunities the Lord provides rather than compare ourselves to others.
Excerpt: Christians should view their good deeds as opportunities provided by the Lord, rather than comparing themselves to others. Salvation is by God’s grace, not by works, and humility is key to earning crowns in Heaven.
Words of Wisdom from the Babylon Bee – My take on the matter …
It is part of our nature (sin nature) to compare ourselves with others. This tendency should be one of the main differences between born-again Christians and those who are not saved. We know theologically that salvation is exclusively by God’s grace, not by our own efforts. No one can obtain the perfection of God’s standards regardless of where we each may fall on the scale of good behavior vs. bad.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Yet we still compare ourselves to others, and, to some degree, that is not just our sin nature speaking. We are called to challenge our brother/sister as iron sharpens iron … within the boundaries of fellowship rather than hypocrisy (Matthew 7:3-5).
Humility and an acknowledgement of the supernatural source of our good behavior is the basis of earning crowns in Heaven … not our works.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 18:9-14
Finally, no one but God knows the opportunities we were given in this life to demonstrate our faith in action. Perhaps men such as Billy Graham or Tim Tebow will have a higher place in the pecking order of Heaven. However, it is my belief that there will be many unknown prayer warriors and those who demonstrated their kindness in such a way that only God was the audience, who will hold higher ranks on the other side of the grave than these public figures.
Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words
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