Building Blocks

played with building blocks.  I still remember the fun I had as a child building different things from these blocks.  contest to see who could build the tallest tower, the most blocks without their tower falling was the winner. Have you ever played that game?  I thought it might be fun to play the tower game this morning.  Here is the way we will play.  For every good thing I can say about myself, I will add a block.  Let's see, where shall I start?

Well, I go to church every Sunday...I even go to prayer meeting on Wednesday night...I read my Bible every day...I say my prayers before I go to bed at night...I even give thanks before every meal...I pay my bills on time...I almost always tell the truth...I keep my room clean and put my dirty clothes in the hamper....  (Keep going as long as necessary to make the tower fall.)  Crash!  Well, my tower got just a little too tall, didn't it?

Jesus taught his disciples that whenever people boast and brag about the great things that they do, they are headed for a fall!  He told about two men who went to the temple.  One of the men bragged about all of the great things he did and thanked God that he wasn't like those other sinners in the temple.  The other man, instead of bragging about how great he was, humbly asked God to forgive him for all of the times he failed to be the kind of person that God wanted him to be.

Jesus was not the least bit impressed with all of the boasting of the first man.  Most of the things he did, he did to impress other people.  Jesus said that we should be humble -- like the second man.  After all, when we compare our goodness to the goodness of Jesus, it just doesn't stack up, does it?

Dear Jesus, help us to remember that when we build our life upon our own goodness, we are headed for a fall.  Instead, let us put our trust in your righteousness,  for then we will find favor in your sight.  Amen.