When he was in college, my friend Nat’s roommate would come home from work, prepare dinner, sit down in front of the TV, and turn on the one program that would make him feel better about himself – Jerry Springer. Between 1991 and 2018, the program defined tabloid television, with a constant stream of topics and guests who were … um, … colorful. To say the least.
Springer would bring on a guest for some questions and answers, and then would also bring out another person who was a source of conflict for the original guest. Melees almost always broke out on stage between scorned lovers, people who had been cheated on, sisters who stole boyfriends from each other, etc. Except the guy whose wife was a horse – they apparently had been living happily together for years.
After watching a show, Nat’s roommate would say some version of, “Well, at least I’m not like them.” By comparing himself to Jerry Springer’s guests, he felt better about himself. Which seems like a pretty low bar to clear.
Jesus told a similar parable, about a Pharisee and tax collector who went to the temple to pray (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee looked at the tax collector and prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11).
Funny, but robbers, evildoers and adulterers describe the vast majority of guests on Jerry Springer. So like Nat’s roommate, the Pharisee compared himself to someone he knew he was already better than, so he felt justified and satisfied with himself. But he set the bar pretty low.
On the other hand, the tax collector compared himself to God, and understood how imperfect and inadequate he actually was. He couldn’t even bring himself to look toward heaven as he prayed, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Jesus said the tax collector “went home justified before God” because he had humbled himself, instead of exalting himself like the Pharisee (Luke 18:14).
If we compare ourselves – our thoughts, actions, behavior, attitudes, motives, etc. – to Jesus, we can’t help but be humbled. When we compare ourselves to other people, however, we begin to get puffed up with a false sense of pride. When we compare ourselves to Jesus, we can see areas in our life that need work, and how we’ve changed and (hopefully) improved over time to become more like Christ.
Who are you comparing yourself to, and why?
Amen!! Thank you to remind us we are to praise and thank God where He put us to grow us on our weakness to be more and more like Him, as we draw closer to Him, knowing we are so blessed because our perfect sacrifice has chosen such an imperfect, yet servant desiring to surrender it all to Him!