Self-Righteousness
Illustration★★★★-RIGHTEOUSNESS Two brothers were nearing death. Envious of his brother, the older of the two asked God: Why has my brother been blessed with wealth and happiness and I with nothing? All of my life I never missed a single day without saying my morning and evening prayers. My Church attendance has been per- fect.
I have made not a single decision in my life without first calling Your Name. And now, as I am nearing my final days, I pray to You day and night. Yet I can hardly afford to pay my meager rent. My brother on the other hand drinks and gambles all night long.
Not once have I heard him in prayer. Yet my brother has more money than he can count. So I ask you God not to punish my brother but to tell me why have You allowed him such wealth and happi- ness while I have been left with nothing?
“Because,” God replied, “you are such a self-righteous pain-in- the-neck!”
The point
Two brothers nearing death; the older, who prayed daily and never missed church, asked why his gambling drinking brother had wealth and happiness. God's answer: 'You are such a self-righteous pain-in-the-neck!'