Reality Check: Deserve What?

In frequent conversations with friends the word "deserve" seems to come up quite regularly, and more times than not, the context in which the word is shared rubs me the wrong way. We like to talk about what we deserve, so I figured what the heck, I'll join in on the conversation.

We are quick to pass judgement on the drug dealer found out by the cops who gets prosecuted and what he deserves, not to mention the child-molester living in some hole in the wall who is tried and convicted. We applaud when the corrupt banker is tracked down on some island retreat sipping on margaritas and is hauled back to the country to be brought to justice. And we pat ourselves on the back by pointing out the guy we know who beat his wife this past year.

But when do we take account of our own sins, you know, the stuff we've done of late that turns God's stomach? When do we put our finger away and fall to our knees and ask God to have mercy on those the world condemns and to please somehow have the same kind of mercy on us? When do we stop and realize we deserve nothing better than hell but have been given a full life in Jesus?

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, ESV

You see, despite all of our self-righteousness we are no better than the worst of those deemed despicable—we have been forgiven for our own pile of sins. How often we see our neighbor (or even someone closer to close us) do something as deplorable as cheat on their spouse and think, Thank you God that I am not like so and so.

It's spiritual smugness to assume we deserve anything let alone God's love, and I am convinced that we can't truly love others or appreciate life until we understand just what it is we really deserve.