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"THE HAUGHTY AND THE HUMBLE" "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican." (Luke 18:10)I'm sure all of us know someone who prances about thinking they're a cut above everyone else and God's gift to humanity. They may be a co-worker, or a family member, or God forbid, a Church member. Even worse, the person could very well be that guy or gal we're gawking at in the mirror several times each day.In Luke 18, Jesus relates a story which takes dead aim at those who thought of themselves more highly than they ought to think. It's the parable about the Pharisee and the Publican, or as I like to refer to them as the, "THE HAUGHTY AND THE HUMBLE."The story begins one day when these two fellas head for the Temple to pray. The Pharisee wouldn't even so much as bow the knee, but stood there spouting off about himself like he was the person who made the cats go meow. The Bible says he prayed, but it tells us that he was really talking to himself (v.11).He starts off by expounding his religious ME-ology in an attempt to impress God and anyone else who might have an ear bent in his direction. He has the audacity to thank God that he wasn't anything like some of the big sinners around town, and for good measure, he lumped in this despicable Publican that everyone hated because of his well-known excessive tax collecting methods.This proud Pharisee continues to ramble on, like he was auditioning to be the head honcho in the Sanhedrin, saying that he goes without food or other necessities a couple of times a week and always has an open wallet giving that good ole 10% of everything that has his name on it. Wow, you'd think right then and there that God ought to lean over the Bannister of Heaven and shout out a big AMEN! Well, let's see how the rest of this story plays out.Meanwhile, the Publican keeps his distance. And it wasn't because of the words of that self-proclaimed holier than thou Pharisee that caused him to stand afar off. No! When that tax collector smote his breast saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner", that was indeed the work of the Holy Spirit that showed him what he was before God. You see, the Publican knew what he was and he knew that God knew what he was! Now folks, THAT is a broken and contrite heart. That's the cry of a humble soul; not a haughty one!Now we hear the Lord Jesus as He ends this parable explaining which one left that prayer meeting living a life forgiven and happy, and which one left living foolish and heartless saying, "I tell you, this man [the Publican] went down to his house justified rather than the other [the Pharisee]: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (v14)How do we see ourselves? In Romans 12:3, Paul tells us, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." If one thinks highly of themselves, then folks, that thought just smacks with pride!Friends, oh how our Saviour longs for you and I to come before Him with that language which speaks with honesty, and with a heart that beats with humility.