Your Resume

By Rob White 

     What  does your resume say about  you? Recently, someone asked me, “How do you identify yourself? What does your resume say about you?” I quickly answered: 

Child of my Lord, Christian, teacher, leader in the church, student, computer technician, servant, friend, prayer warrior, Bible reader. 

     It sounded good—until I read Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:10-14 (HCSB) about the Pharisee and the tax collector. “The Pharisee took his stand [a] and was praying like this:

“God, I thank You that I am not like other people [b] – greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I  give a tenth [c] of everything I get.”

     The tax collector, standing far off, wouldn’t even lift his eyes to Heaven. He beat his chest and said, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” Luke 18:13b, NLT

 The Pharisee’s resume would have looked impressive: 

 One of God’s chosen people 

 Pure, just, law-keeping

 • Prays, reads Scripture, does good works

 • Keeps the Sabbath, not a thief or adulterer

 • Thankful he’s not like “that sinner” 

    The tax collector’s resume was far less flattering: 

 . Steals and cheats

 • Recognizes he is a sinner

 • Humble, seeking God’s mercy

 • Ready to trust God by faith 

     My list looked a lot more like the Pharisee’s than the tax collector’s. It didn’t even mention that I am a sinner. Yet if I claim I don’t sin, I make God a liar (See 1 John 1:8-10). That adds two more entries: liar and sinner. 

    Jesus said that the tax collector—not the Pharisee—went home justified. We are no different from the “lost” –  except for our relationship with Christ. “All have sinned and fall short of  the glory of God.”Romans 3:23, NIV

     The only way to be made right with God is through humble faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross—not by polishing our spiritual resume. 

     So here is my revised resume: 

 I am a sinner—yet God loves me so much that 

“…He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who  believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life .” John 3:16,NLT

I am a Christian—becoming more like Christ because the Holy Spirit lives in me, helping me love God and love others.

 I love Him, and I love you. I talk to Him daily in prayer. 

I read the Bible—His love letter to us.

 I serve God and people. 

I teach about God’s love, while still learning it myself. 

I work as a student minister (and sometimes still as a computer technician and manager). 

    No matter what we’ve done, God loves us. The most valuable gift we can share is the Gospel: Jesus died for sinners like us, rose again, and offers forgiveness and new life, through faith in Him alone. 

     Friend, what does your resume say? Does your heart show that you love God and love others? Examine it today. Come to God like the tax collector—honest about your sin, and trusting in His mercy. He is ready to justify you, too. May our lives be lived for the glory of God alone. — Rob