Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)
A survey was done in 2011 of over 2,000 Americans. The question was asked, "What are the most important things in your life?" The answers were, in order of importance:
1. Being a good parent
2. Having a successful marriage
3. Having a job/career that benefits society
4. Owning own home
5. Being successful in a high paying career/profession
6. Becoming famous
Having a relationship with God was nowhere on the list, and surely Christians were included in the survey. We have to get our priorities right. Jesus tells us clearly in the above verse what the most important thing in our life should be - our relationship with Him, which restores our relationship with God the Father!
We have to put all of these other needs, wants and relationships in their proper place:
- our parents and family: Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. [Micah 7:6-7]' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:34-39)
- our wealth and possessions: Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother. [Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21]’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. (Luke 18:18-23)
- our desire to please others: Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)
- our desire to be famous: Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-12)
Are relationships with our family and friends bad? Is having wealth bad? Is pleasing others bad? Is being famous bad? NO! In and of themselves, none of these things are bad. The problem is putting these things first, as the most important things in our lives. And the numbers don't lie, most people who attain all of these things still end up being miserable and or alone. So what do we do? Then Jesus said to His disciples [and all believers], “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26) Like King Solomon, let's desire the most important thing, and in return, God will bless us with all the others: The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing [wisdom]. Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing [wisdom], and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, ... And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, ... So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, ..., then I will lengthen your days.” (I Kings 3:10-14); But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
No comments:
Post a Comment