Do you know your need?

So where do you put yourself on the sliding scale of acceptability? Come on, now. It is a common human trait to compare ourselves with others in our search for significance. For example, a person might reason - "I'm nowhere near Mother Teresa on the compassion scale, but I'm not Saddam Hussein, either." As long as we can find someone we consider inferior to ourselves, in whatever measure we are using, we can find a certain kind of comfort. We will also remain unaware of our true neediness!

Simon invited Jesus to his house for dinner. Simon was noted in his town for his rectitude. His home was on the right street. His friends were chosen from among the right group. He kept his finances in order. His family knew his expectations and did not challenge him for they had been well taught about the importance of maintaining his reputation in the community. Even his clothes were right, his robes selected to say, "I'm a serious man worthy of respect." Since Jesus was a rabbi with a growing reputation and was coming to town, it was 'right' to invite him to dinner. The evening was done right, everything prepared in detail, nothing left to chance. After all, that was the way Simon, the Pharisee, lived his life. Appearances were important.

As dinner was ending and conversation was flowing among the men, all chosen carefully according to their position, it happened! A woman with reputation in town for being 'available,' showed up and somehow made it into the room. She went straight to Jesus! The silence was deafening. The rabbi was a customer of this woman? How could that be? Anger rose in Simon as his perfectly planned occasion went off script. He wanted to call the servants to usher this woman out, but Jesus was the ranking guest and she was at his feet so it was up to Him to send her away, but ...

Simon gasped for what he was seeing was beyond imagination. She was starting to cry, not just wet eyes, but cascades of tears. She was kneeling down and .... kissing His feet! Then, loosened her hair as though she were in the privacy of her own bedroom. What? She is wiping her tears from His feet with her hair? Surely, they must be lovers. He couldn't even think for moment. Then, his shock gave way to rage. Ever polite, ever the respectable Simon, he held his tongue, but in his mind, he sneered, "A prophet? If He were a prophet, he would know this woman's reputation and drive her off. He wouldn't let her touch Him." Then, he thought he heard Jesus speaking to him. "Did I say that out loud?" he thought to himself. He hadn't; but Jesus heard his thoughts and was answering him.

"Simon, I have something to tell you. ...
“Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”

“That’s right,” said Jesus.

Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said,
“Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” (Luke 7:40-47, The Message)

The tragedy of a life like Simon's is that is has no passion for God, no deep appreciation of grace. Self-righteousness obscures the desperately sinful heart that is only made right by a grace awakening. Rigid self-discipline restrains the most egregious temptations from becoming reality, not so much from a desire to be holy for God's sake, but to appear holy for self's sake! "What would they think of me?" is a question asked much more often than, "What does God want from me?" Social respectability takes the place of awesome holiness because it is no the Spirit that gives life, but the Law that rules in death! With little sense of need, the Simon's of the world never come to tears of gratitude, never know the amazing love of God in a way that is beyond reason, beyond theology, beyond religion. "The forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal!"

God's truth to those of us who are so much like Simon is this - "For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins." (Romans 3:23-24, NLT) We don't have to become human wrecks, drowning in flagrant depravity before we realize His love. We need only invite the Spirit to show us our heart, to shine the Light into the corners of our pride, our lovelessness, our self-sufficiency. When we see the truth about ourselves, we have two options - return to the sliding scale of comparisons where we hide our need - OR we can pray, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’" (Luke 18:13, NKJV)

Do you know your need?