YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN

Luke 20:45-47

"45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

I know what you're thinking... that's three verses. I know but sometimes that happens. I was reading this passage this morning and it struck me as odd at first. It seems kind of out of place with the rest of the text. Until you look more closely at what Jesus had been teaching the people and the Pharisees in the preceding texts. What I find odd is that Jesus would say this to a crowd of people which no doubt was peppered with certain individuals whom he was condemning. Jesus had grit man! But what is this passage saying to me... about me?

Beware those who...

• "Walk around in long robes..." - Maybe showing off what I have and what I've accomplished?
  
• "love greetings in the marketplaces..." - Maybe loving public recognition and support from others a little too much?
  
• "the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts..." - Maybe always wanting to best whether it be concert seat, food, book, latest iPhone, fastest computer, etc.?
  
• "who devour widows' houses..." - Maybe not being faithful with what I've been given or by making profit on another man's shoulders somehow?
  
• "for a pretense make long prayers..." - Showing off in church or subtlety "sticking it to the man" during prayers or teachable moments.
  

I admit I've been guilty of all of these. What scares me is the part where it says, "They will receive the greater condemnation.” While I know my security in Christ is... secure, what have I done to others? What have I missed out on? What am I missing out on now?