Embracing God's Righteousness: Overcoming Self-Righteousness
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to Chatham Community Church. Today, we explored the concept of living a fruitful life and the dangers of self-righteousness. Drawing from a parable in Luke, we examined how self-righteousness can render us unfruitful, much like salting a field makes it barren. Jesus' teachings, likened to seeds, have the potential to make us fruitful if they find fertile ground in our hearts. We all desire to be the kind of people who leave every place and relationship better than we found it, but self-righteousness can thwart this.
Self-righteousness is a sense of superiority based on our actions, thoughts, or affiliations. It often leads to comparison and judgment, narrowing our understanding of ourselves, others, and even God. The Pharisee in the parable exemplifies this by boasting about his religious accomplishments, yet his prayer lacks any sense of need for God. In contrast, the tax collector's simple prayer, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner," reflects a deep awareness of his need for God, making his prayer fruitful.
We can be self-righteous about many things—our achievements, finances, politics, or even our fitness routines. This self-righteousness can make us feel valuable based on our performance, but it’s a faulty foundation. Our true value comes from being created by God and redeemed through Jesus' sacrifice. To live a fruitful life, we must abandon self-justification and embrace the righteousness that comes from God.
The tax collector's prayer is a model for us. It’s simple yet profound, acknowledging our need for God in every area of life. This week, I encourage you to pray simple prayers that declare your need for God and invite Him to meet that need. Whether you need rest, love, peace, strength, or mercy, let your prayers reflect your dependence on God.
### Key Takeaways
1. Self-Righteousness and Its Dangers: Self-righteousness is a sense of superiority that can make us unfruitful. It narrows our understanding of ourselves, others, and God, leading to judgment and disconnection. True fruitfulness comes from recognizing our need for God in every area of life. [06:23]
2. The Faulty Foundation of Performance: Building our sense of value on performance or achievements is a faulty foundation. We will inevitably have bad weeks or seasons where we don't meet our standards. Our true value is established by God and confirmed through Jesus' sacrifice. [15:44]
3. Comparison and Its Pitfalls: Living a life marked by comparison leads to judgment, jealousy, and resentment. These are not the marks of a fruitful life. Instead, we should focus on growing in love for God and others, which leads to true fruitfulness. [16:21]
4. The Power of Simple Prayers: The tax collector's simple prayer, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner," is a model for us. It reflects a deep awareness of our need for God. Simple prayers that declare our need and invite God to meet it can transform our lives. [24:53]
5. Abandoning Self-Justification: To live a fruitful life, we must abandon the pursuit of self-justification and embrace the righteousness that comes from God. This allows us to grow in love for God and others, leading to a life that is truly fruitful and abundant. [25:37]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:49] - Introduction and Personal Story
[01:45] - The Concept of Salting the Fields
[02:57] - The Call to Live a Fruitful Life
[03:53] - Jesus' Teachings as Seeds
[04:37] - The Desire for a Fruitful Life
[05:25] - The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
[06:23] - The Dangers of Self-Righteousness
[07:15] - Defining Self-Righteousness
[08:06] - The Pharisee's Prayer
[08:52] - The Fault with the Pharisee's Resume
[09:39] - The Unfruitful Life of the Self-Righteous
[10:30] - Personal Story of Self-Righteousness
[12:04] - The Pitfalls of Performance-Based Value
[12:46] - The Comparison Game
[13:24] - Various Forms of Self-Righteousness
[14:12] - The True Source of Our Value
[14:58] - The Faulty Foundation of Performance and Comparison
[15:44] - The Consequences of Comparison
[16:21] - Missing the Heart of God
[17:13] - The Pharisee's Missed Connection
[17:58] - The Role of Religious Activity
[18:39] - The Tax Collector's Prayer
[19:25] - The Simplicity and Power of the Tax Collector's Prayer
[20:23] - The Tax Collector's Awareness of Need
[21:12] - Our Need for God in Every Area
[21:55] - The Story of the Church Leader
[22:30] - The Importance of Relying on God
[23:02] - Areas of Self-Reliance
[23:41] - The Path to a Fruitful Life
[24:18] - The Contrast Between the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
[24:53] - The Fruitful Life Through Dependence on God
[25:37] - Abandoning Self-Justification
[26:19] - Embracing God's Righteousness
[27:09] - Praying Simple Prayers
[28:49] - Examples of Simple Prayers
[29:21] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Luke 18:9-14 (The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector)
2. Matthew 7:1-5 (Judging Others)
3. Ephesians 2:8-9 (Saved by Grace Through Faith)
### Observation Questions
1. In the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14), what are the key differences between the prayers of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector?
2. According to the sermon, what does self-righteousness do to our ability to be fruitful? [06:23]
3. How does the Pharisee's prayer reflect his sense of self-righteousness? [08:06]
4. What does the tax collector's simple prayer, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner," reveal about his awareness of his need for God? [19:25]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus use the Pharisee and the Tax Collector to illustrate the dangers of self-righteousness and the importance of humility? [05:25]
2. How does self-righteousness "throw salt on our souls" and make us unfruitful, according to the sermon? [06:23]
3. What does it mean to build our sense of value on performance, and why is this considered a faulty foundation? [15:44]
4. How can simple prayers, like the one offered by the tax collector, transform our lives and lead to a more fruitful existence? [24:53]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt superior to others based on your actions or beliefs. How did this affect your relationships and your sense of connection to God? [07:15]
2. In what areas of your life do you find yourself building your sense of value on performance or achievements? How can you shift your focus to the value established by God? [14:12]
3. Have you ever caught yourself comparing your achievements or lifestyle to others? How did this impact your sense of peace and contentment? [16:21]
4. This week, try praying a simple prayer that acknowledges your need for God. What specific area of your life do you need to invite God into, and how can you make this a daily practice? [27:09]
5. Think about a recent situation where you relied on your own strength rather than seeking God's help. How can you change your approach in similar situations moving forward? [21:12]
6. Identify one area of your life where you have been self-reliant. What steps can you take to invite God into that area and depend on Him more fully? [23:02]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group to abandon self-justification and embrace the righteousness that comes from God? Share a personal story or example to illustrate this. [25:37]
Devotional
Day 1: The Dangers of Self-Righteousness
Self-righteousness is a sense of superiority that can make us unfruitful. It narrows our understanding of ourselves, others, and God, leading to judgment and disconnection. True fruitfulness comes from recognizing our need for God in every area of life. Self-righteousness often leads to comparison and judgment, which can create barriers between us and others, as well as between us and God. The Pharisee in the parable exemplifies this by boasting about his religious accomplishments, yet his prayer lacks any sense of need for God. In contrast, the tax collector's simple prayer, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner," reflects a deep awareness of his need for God, making his prayer fruitful. [06:23]
Luke 18:11-14 (ESV): "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.”
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt superior to someone else. How can you ask God to help you see that person through His eyes and recognize your own need for His grace?
Day 2: The Faulty Foundation of Performance
Building our sense of value on performance or achievements is a faulty foundation. We will inevitably have bad weeks or seasons where we don't meet our standards. Our true value is established by God and confirmed through Jesus' sacrifice. When we base our worth on our accomplishments, we set ourselves up for disappointment and insecurity. Instead, we should find our identity in being created by God and redeemed through Jesus. This shift in perspective allows us to live a more stable and fruitful life, free from the constant pressure to perform. [15:44]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you feel pressured to perform. How can you remind yourself that your true value comes from God and not from your achievements?
Day 3: Comparison and Its Pitfalls
Living a life marked by comparison leads to judgment, jealousy, and resentment. These are not the marks of a fruitful life. Instead, we should focus on growing in love for God and others, which leads to true fruitfulness. Comparison often stems from insecurity and a lack of understanding of our unique value in God's eyes. By shifting our focus from comparing ourselves to others to loving God and those around us, we can cultivate a more fulfilling and fruitful life. [16:21]
Galatians 6:4-5 (ESV): "But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load."
Reflection: Think of a person you often compare yourself to. How can you shift your focus from comparison to loving and serving that person this week?
Day 4: The Power of Simple Prayers
The tax collector's simple prayer, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner," is a model for us. It reflects a deep awareness of our need for God. Simple prayers that declare our need and invite God to meet it can transform our lives. These prayers don't need to be elaborate or lengthy; their power lies in their sincerity and the recognition of our dependence on God. By incorporating simple, heartfelt prayers into our daily routine, we can cultivate a deeper relationship with God and experience His transformative power in our lives. [24:53]
Psalm 51:17 (ESV): "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Reflection: Take a moment to pray a simple, heartfelt prayer to God. What is one area of your life where you need His mercy and guidance today?
Day 5: Abandoning Self-Justification
To live a fruitful life, we must abandon the pursuit of self-justification and embrace the righteousness that comes from God. This allows us to grow in love for God and others, leading to a life that is truly fruitful and abundant. Self-justification often leads to pride and a false sense of security, whereas embracing God's righteousness brings humility and a deeper connection with Him. By letting go of our need to justify ourselves, we open the door to experiencing God's grace and love more fully. [25:37]
Philippians 3:9 (ESV): "And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you tend to justify yourself. How can you let go of this need and embrace the righteousness that comes from God instead?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Jesus declared that His teachings are like seeds. They are packed with potential to make us fruitful people. Following Him as Savior and Lord and applying His teachings will not only transform us into the kinds of people we were made to be, but also burst out from us, to be a blessing to all those around us." (22 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You and I were made to live fruitful lives. But there are things that can make even what was made to be fruitful, and abundantly fruitful, incapable of producing good fruit." (14 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Our value does not depend on any of those areas. The issue of our value was established when God created us. We are valuable because God made us. If there was any question about that, the issue of our value was settled at the cross. In the death and resurrection of Jesus, for God so loved the world. You and I. And it will be confirmed when Jesus returns. And welcomes us into the kingdom that is to come." (28 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Friends, we can check all the boxes. And miss the fruitful life we were made for. If you are caught in that race right now. If you are caught in the achievement or the measuring up in any area right now. Let me tell you, you may get to a point. You may have a long stretch where you're checking all the boxes. You may tell me, I'm never going to have a bad week because I am just that good. Or because I've lowered the bar just that much. You may check all the boxes. But you may still miss the fruitful life you were made for." (34 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The fruitful life starts when we release the pursuit of self-justification in every area of life. And embrace the power of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to justify us. To declare us righteous. To declare us righteous. So friends, abandon self-justification. Abandon the need to make yourself righteous." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Self-righteousness decimates our ability to be fruitful in the ways that last, in the ways that matter, in the ways that are abundant, in the ways that multiply, in the ways that extend far beyond what we could even imagine. The ways that transform us into the people we were made to be. And the ways that bless those around us." (22 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What self-righteousness does is it narrows our sense of ourselves, it narrows our ability to understand other people well, and it can even narrow our sense and our understanding of God and what God is capable of. And that's where the Pharisee in the story is at. He goes to pray. A religious activity. But the prayer is a mix of his own accomplishment and how he's better than other people. It's like he's reading God his resume to attempt to impress him and to remind God of how great he already is. As if God doesn't know what he's done. He's acting like he has arrived. Like he's figured out life. Like he's unlocked the formula." (51 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You may achieve a lot. But that's not a fruitful life. Friends, we can check all the boxes. And miss the fruitful life we were made for. If you are caught in that race right now. If you are caught in the achievement or the measuring up in any area right now. Let me tell you, you may get to a point. You may have a long stretch where you're checking all the boxes. You may tell me, I'm never going to have a bad week because I am just that good. Or because I've lowered the bar just that much. You may check all the boxes. But you may still miss the fruitful life you were made for." (34 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The invitation isn't to dismiss all religious activity. Just as it's not an invitation to dismiss doing anything good. The invitation is to order them rightly. To order them correctly. Now as a foil to the Pharisee and his self-righteousness. Jesus brings in a tax collector to the story. And tax collectors. Tax collectors are not popular people in the first century. They are unlikable to that first century audience for two reasons. One, they work for the Roman government. And the Roman government is an occupying force. And so you've got people native to the land. Conquered people who have gone to work for the conquerors." (38 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The fruitful life starts when we release the pursuit of self-justification in every area of life. And embrace the power of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to justify us. To declare us righteous. To declare us righteous. So friends, abandon self-justification. Abandon the need to make yourself righteous. In every area. In any area. Abandon that need. And let God justify you. Let God declare you righteous." (35 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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