Which of them will love him more?

It is a familiar story to students of the Bible.  Jesus was invited to eat at Simon the Pharisee's home.  A woman of the city who was known to be a sinful woman found out that Jesus was there.

We know what happened.  She wept over Jesus' feet, wiped them with her hair and anointed them with expensive ointment.

Simon didn't like that one little bit.  He decided Jesus couldn't possibly be a prophet or he would know what kind of woman was touching him and (he thought) would never allow such a thing.

Jesus answered Simon's thoughts with a brief story and a serious question.  A moneylender forgave the debts of two men, one of whom owed ten times more than the other.  Jesus asked, "Which of them will love him more?"  

When Simon gave the obvious answer Jesus proceeded to show him that this sinful woman was showing great love because she knew she was a sinner forgiven of much.  In contrast, Simon had not even offered water for the washing of dirty feet.  

Jesus said to Simon, "...he who is forgiven little, loves little."

Jesus wasn't saying that Simon didn't have much to be forgiven of.  It is Simon's attitude that is the problem.  Simon thought he was a pretty good guy.  Not a wicked sinner like that woman.  

What about you?  Do you look around and see wicked sinners and consider yourself pretty good?  Not much there that needs to be forgiven.  Try comparing yourself with the spotless lamb and see how well you come out.

 Are you grateful?  Most of us spend a lot of time complaining instead of being grateful.  

Do you have a bed to sleep in?  Remember those who are sleeping in bomb shelters or on park benches. 

Do you have food on the table?  Consider those who are searching through dumpsters in hopes of finding something to feed their children.

Do you have a roof over your head?  You can drive through any major city and see those who are homeless, searching for shelter under bridges.

If you are reading this, you were blessed to receive an education.  Consider the children who long to go to school but their parents cannot afford the school fees.

Do you have a Bible?  Maybe you have several Bibles.  According to Pioneer Bible Translators' website 180 million people in more than 2000 languages are Bibleless.  

Have you been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ?  Many American Christians find it difficult to believe, but there are still people in the world who have never heard of Jesus at all and many more who know next to nothing about him.

You may be one of those who are blessed in physical ways and also blessed spiritually.  Do  you live a grateful life?  Having physical blessings, do you seek to share those with the less fortunate?  When you have a little extra in a month does it go toward some new "thing" that you want?  Does it go to help the orphans or widows?

Having spiritual blessings, do you read that Bible every day?  Do you seek to understand the word of God?  Do you strive to know it better?  Do you practice the Christian disciplines so that you can become more fit to be God's servant?  Do you reach out to the lost around you?  The command to seek the lost and teach them about Christ is for every Christian.  How are you doing?  

Are you truly grateful?