Mark 1:40 - 45 A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
The leper is an outcast in society forced to live outside of the community. He wasn't allowed to get close to Jesus or anyone else. Jesus would become unclean if he is within speaking distance of the leper. But the leper bucks the rules and so does Jesus. The man falls on his knees before Jesus. Jesus could have healed the man without touching him, but he stretches out his hand and touches him.
What rules might we be following instead of following Jesus' example of putting compassion before the law? Who are the outcasts that need your gentle touch?
Maybe you are like me... and can also identify with the outcast? Maybe you don't fit in - maybe "the community of God" has told you to live outside their walls - that you make them unclean? How would it feel to fall at Jesus' feet and feel his hand grab hold of yours?
*****
The other gospels weigh in...
Matthew 8:1-4 When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; 2 and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." 3 He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 Then Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Luke 5:12-16 12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." 13 Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose. Be made clean." Immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he ordered him to tell no one. "Go," he said, "and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them." 15 But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. 16 But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.
When Jesus was done with the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds reacted:
Matthew 7:28-29 28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Other times when Jesus spoke, there were similar reactions:
Mark 1:21-22 21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Luke 4:32 32 They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.
John 7:46 46 The police answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this!"
Picture what is happening. A lowly carpenter - unschooled as an authority on the law, or on the religious traditions has taken center stage. Yet, he speaks with authority - with truth! His words are backed up by the miracles people see him perform. They have been healed, demons have been cast out. He has the power of God with in him. BUT he is not backed by the religious authorities. And yet, he teaches how we must live as members of his community. And then he makes the biggest - most authoritative claim of all - that if he does not know you, then you will be not part of God's kingdom (Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 6:46). Knowing him means you do the will of God - you hear the words of Jesus and you do them. You follow him. You enter into a servant relationship with the creator and sustainer of the universe. This isn't a part time - or just when it is advantageous commitment. This is 24 by 7 servant hood.
Have you recognized Jesus' words as having authority? Have you been astoundedby them? "Love your enemies. Care for the poor. Forgive." Have you decided he is worth following - giving up your self - and becoming his servant? How will this change all the decisions you make today?
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Luke records Jesus speaking a different set of warnings from Matthew.... this is the last...
Luke 6:24-26 26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
If you want to be popular, following Jesus isn't going to be easy for you. The false prophets were popular. They told the people what they wanted to hear, while the real prophets were run out of town - often killed. On one hand, followers of Jesus should be the most popular kids in town - they love unconditionally, work to meet the needs of the poor, feed the hungry. On the other hand, they speak truth and work for justice. The only people who are going to appreciate truth and justice are those who seek it too.
For me this is the hardest part of following Jesus. But here Jesus assures his followers to expect this sort of treatment - and yet, to follow him anyway.
Luke records Jesus speaking a different set of warnings.... this is the third...
Luke 6:24-26 "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
Jesus loves everyone of us. None of us are insignificant. We saw in the previous verses that his heart breaks when any of us are going hungry or are in poverty. And he warns his followers not to ignore their responsibility when they have food and money, but to use it to feed and provide for others. Now he does the same thing with laughter. Laughter?
The implication is not to have fun when others are mourning and weeping. And certainly not to have fun at their expense. Jesus' heart breaks not just when people are hungry or in poverty, but when they are mourning and sad too.
I have found it interesting to watch the attitudes of the different teams that my husband plays in tennis. It is just a game, but some are quick to yell "good point" or "great shot" when the other team does well. Others aren't so generous. One Saturday, I was sitting in the bleachers among the other team. They were talking about the small groups they belonged to at church while making ugly comments every time their opponents did well. Their adolescent children sat with them and mimicked their parents. I found the mix of church talk and unsportsmanlike conduct mixing like oil and water. Again, tennis is just a game. But I wondered how these children (or their parents) would react when the stakes were real and higher?
Not only should one not laugh when someone else is hurting, but Jesus puts the responsibility on his followers shoulders to offer comfort. He wants us to love others like he loves them.
Luke records Jesus speaking a different set of warnings.... this is the second...
Luke 6:24-26 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry."
Hunger is a spiritual issue - for those who are full. One can't be right with God if they are full when others are starving. It is not enough to be concerned with feeding ourselves, our own families, or other Americans. We need to be feeding all the people that God created. Burdensome responsibility. But this is the responsibility of Jesus' followers.
In the United States, on a typical day, between 490,000 and 700,000 households (not individuals) go hungry because they can't afford to buy food. The world produces enough food for every human being to eat 3,500 calories a day - far more than any individual needs. The problem is that many people are too poor to buy the food that is available to them. This is true even in countries where there is adjunct poverty - these countries often export food to those who can pay for it.
Who needs to be fed in your community today? How are you going to participate in ending hunger?
These guys decided to help end hunger in their community by starting a garden for homeless vets in Asheville. They are not only able to feed themselves, but they sell the left over produce to raise money for the center.
Luke records Jesus speaking a different set of warnings.... this is the first...
Luke 6:24-26 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
You probably don't consider yourself rich. Most people don't. USA today surveyed a group of millionaires. They defined being rich to be when you have over $7.5 million in assets. The present administration sets the bar not by what you have saved, but by what you bring in yearly. You need to have $250,000 a year coming in to be considered wealthy (and more heavily taxable). If you bring in more than $250,000 a year, you are in the top 5% of Americans. Yet, a group of people who bring in $250,000 a year were surveyed by CNN. They didn't feel rich - and CNN mockingly dubbed them "the working rich."
Basically, people do not consider themselves "rich" until they have enough money to have everything they want without working for it. I wonder how Jesus defined rich? Well, he doesn't put a dollar amount on it. According to Jesus' teachings, the rich are those who choose to indulge themselves while others are in need. By that definition, are you rich?
Dealing with money is the biggest trial most of us will ever face. And we face it every time we earn a dime. Will I take that dime and spend it on luxuries for myself or will I use it for those in physical and spiritual need? And what constitutes a luxury?
And that logic says it is okay to put my needs first and if there is left over to take care of others. What if I take seriously the teaching to put others before myself?
Woe to those of us who have indulged ourselves while others are in need. We've gotten all we are going to get. And P.S. we've not gotten the spiritual blessings we would have gotten if we had given to those in need.
Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with four warnings. This is the last.
Matthew 7:24-27 24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell-- and great was its fall!"
Luke 6:47-49 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. 48 That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house."
A picture is worth a thousand words... This poured-concrete house in Pass Christian, Miss., survived the storm surge of Hurricane Katrina while all the other homes in the surrounding area, built of wood, were swept away. The lesson has prompted some home buyers on the Mississippi coast to opt for elevated concrete houses, despite the higher cost of construction.
Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with four warnings. This is the third...
Matthew 7:21-23 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' 23 Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'
Luke 6:46 46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? Luke 13:25-27 25 When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then in reply he will say to you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!'
It is pretty simple: some claim to know Jesus, but don't know him at all. Those who really know Jesus do God's will.
James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
There is no way around it. Those who follow Jesus will do God's will. This makes me pause and think... is my faith full of good intentions or am I living it?
This is the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus ends with four warnings. This is the second one.
Matthew 7:15-20 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Luke 6:43-45 43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
There are two kinds of trees.
Ones with good fruit and ones with bad fruit.
Take notice and beware of what nourishes you!
There are two kinds of people.
Ones with good treasure in their hearts and those with evil treasure in their hearts.
Take notice and beware of who you listen to!
In both cases, one speaks for Jesus and one does not.
Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with four warnings. This is the first.
Matthew 7:13-14 13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Luke 13:23-24 23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" He said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
Strive to enter through the narrow gate. Strive means to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something ... to fight vigorously or to struggle. But to strive for something, you have to know the goal - what it is you are striving for. Jesus describes the goal as finding and entering a narrow gate. Not only is finding the gate hard, but entering it is hard too.
And how do these words mix with Jesus' words just a bit earlier in his sermon that say, "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8)? Quite a bit of striving (asking, finding, knocking) going on, but these verses seem to say everyone rather than just a few seekers will find and enter the door.
Although these teachings seem to contradict one another, I believe that Jesus is differentiating between the many who pursue knowledge of and control over God (especially seeking ways to gain God's blessings) and the few who are willing to become God's servants. There are many who seek God's blessings, but few who desire to ask, find, and knock on the door as servants seeking to do the will of God. We tend to either pursue false gods or we pursue God through rules, theology, and good works (ways to control God's blessings) rather than giving ourselves as servants to God.
Christianity has gotten confused especially here in the Bible belt. No sidewalk evangelist has ever come up to me and asked, "Would you like to know for sure that you are serving God with your life today?" Instead, the standard phrase is always, "Would you like to know for sure that you are going to heaven if you died tonight?" One question demonstrates entering a right relationship with God where one will serve God with their life - the other offers a way to control God often through praying a single prayer that will guarantee a ticket to a place called heaven where every wish will be granted after you die.
Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep... I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture (John 10:7-9).
Jesus is the gate and he is also the way we enter. But we come in - go out - and find pasture. We follow him. It is in following him that we find life in the here and now that matters.
Matthew 7:12 "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets."
Luke 6:31 "Do to others as you would have them do to you."
"There was once a man who was traveling on dangerous roads. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a pastor was on her way down the same road, but when she saw him she angled across to the other side. Then an elder in the pastor's church showed up; she also avoided the injured man.
But then a woman who had been disowned by the church came upon the man. When she saw the man's condition, her heart went out to him. She gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then she lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning she took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'
.... Jesus said (to the religious people), "Go and do the same."
Matthew and Luke remember Jesus' emphasis slightly differently.
Matthew 7:7-11 7 "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Luke 11:9-13 9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Why did Matthew remember Jesus saying that God would give those who ask good things, but Luke remembered him saying the Holy Spirit? Are they one in the same? Is the Holy Spirit the "goodest" gift of all? The ultimate gift from God? Is it the gift where all other gifts originate? It the very life and power of God.
Most people think of God's best gift as being eternal life in a place called heaven - a place where the dead believers go and they have everything they want. Not entirely scriptural. But many people think that is what getting saved is all about... so that when you die you go to this place called heaven instead of hell.
But what if God's best gift was himself... the gift of his Spirit. And that when we put our faith in Christ, his Spirit enters into relationship with us in the here and now. And our eternal life - living in relationship with God - begins right then? What if from that point forward we have the very life and power of God giving us wisdom and empowering us to do God's mission - and this will be true not only in this life, but the next? Wouldn't that be the greatest gift of all?
Maybe I am thinking about this too much. But it raises several questions for me.
First of all, although dogs and pigs don't hold the same things as valuable that we do, they do know that food, water, and taking care of their young are important. And if you have either a dog or a pig for a pet, you know that they are capable of forming emotional attachments with humans. So is there a way to enter into a relationship with them, but perhaps one that doesn't throw them things that they don't understand?
When I was at Montreat years and years ago with kids who I was chaperoning from my youth group, we took an afternoon to wander around Black Mountain. A man and his dog were standing in the parking lot of My Father's Pizza. The dog was the biggest dog I have ever seen in my life (and I own a Great Dane). It was white and fluffy and looked like a giant wolf. I have never seen anything like it since - the man said it was a wolf hybrid. All the kids ran over to the dog who stood stoically while allowing the kids to pet it.
While we oooed and awed over the dog, the man begin to tell us the story of the dog. He said it showed up at his house as a young dog almost starving in the middle of winter. It was already larger than most dogs. And it was vicious - growling and snapping at the man. The man was afraid the dog would die in the cold so he used food to coach it into his utility room. Then he spent the whole night with the dog sitting in the utility room offering the dog bits of food and talking to him in gentle tones. By morning he said the dog trusted him and never growled at him again. The dog couldn't understand the man, but he could understand food - the dog learned that the man wanted to feed him - and eventually the dog was transformed from its original nature into a loving companion.
Is this true of how people enter into a relationship with God too?
If the man had started out by trying to speak commands to the dog, by trying to pet it, or trying to teach it to sit, he might not have had much success in getting the dog to the point where the dog bonded with him. But he started out by meeting the dog's basic need for food. The man didn't throw holy things at the dog or offer it pearls. He met the dog right were he was.
I can think of times when I have tried to rush the process of extending God's invitation to others. I've talked to them - too much - approach them with the gospel in a way that had no meaning to them - expecting things from them that God hadn't yet made possible. I told them about theology that seemed absurd to them and promoted religious customs that had no meaning to them. What if I had stopped placing the holy things and the valuable pearls before them - and just met them where they were?
When my husband and I lived in Washington, DC, one of the favorite things that we used to enjoy doing in order to get out of the city was to go white water rafting with our thirty-something friends. We were all in the best shapes of our lives. We worked out together in the local gym, tried out whatever radical sport was in vogue at the time, and kept challenging each other to new heights of daring adventure. Its how I learned to ski, scuba dive, sail, climb & propel, and raft. None of which I was very good at - I just liked to hang out with the people who were. And this is also how we all ended up camping in West Virginia, waking up at dawn, and heading to a dam where water was being released that morning. We put on our wet suits, got in our rafts, and headed down the Gauley river with class V rapids and a 14 foot water fall. Other people did the Gauley in two days, but not us... we did all 23 miles in one day.
We were a very competitive bunch, but we soon figured out that you never laugh at someone (judge someone) who has fallen out of their raft until you have passed them on the river. That is because until you have passed them in the river, it is likely you will fall prey to the same rough spot of water that they fell prey to. And nothing is more embarrassing than to laugh at someone (to judge someone) when you are about to go under too. The only way smack talk doesn't make you look silly is when you have passed the danger and are yelling over your shoulder at the people behind you. :-)
Okay, that was me talking - and we were just playing - not really judging. But in real life... Jesus says not to judge others period.
Matthew 7:1-5 "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2 For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.
The other gospels weigh in...
Luke 6:37-42 37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." 39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.
Mark 4:24-25 24 And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25 For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away."
Matthew 6:25-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.
If you are like me, now you can start worrying about worrying! :-)
But the cure for worrying is simple: "strive for the Kingdom of God." This is just another way of saying focus your heart and effort on following Jesus. You never have to put yourself first again, because God is taking care of you. This frees you to care for others first, to do God's work, and to truly live unselfishly!
*****
The other gospels weigh in:
Luke 12:22-32 22 He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you-- you of little faith! 29 And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Matthew 6:24 24 "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
"It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody," belts out Dylan. He's right.
A few years ago, a big Atlanta company hired me to be their Vice President of Product Development. My first day of work was spent being taken around by my boss who introduced me to the officers of the company and the organization of engineers that would report to me. On my second day of work, my boss was fired and I was promoted into her job (without an increase in pay or a change of title). On my third day of work, they moved me into her all glass (hotter than Hades - literally, the air conditioner did not work) penthouse corner office. On my fourth day of work, my neighbor, another VP (whose office was air conditioned), stopped by, closed my door, and whispered to me that he had just been in a meeting where two Presidents of two different divisions had argued for having me and my organization report to them. One of the Presidents was over Operations and the other was over Marketing. This VP said that to keep everyone happy, it was decided that I would report to both of them. Now I can't tell you how incredibly absurd that is - and what a lack of leadership it demonstrated at the top of the company.
The President of Marketing got his bonus based on how the product sold. So he wanted engineering to concentrate on features - it mattered very little to him personally how hard it was to manufacture the product. The President of Operations got his bonus based on how efficiently the product was produced. So he would want engineering to concentrate on ease of production - it mattered very little to him personally that the product was what the market wanted. Not only did these two Presidents have conflicting goals, but everyone knew the two men did not get along. Another sign that the company obviously lacked leadership at the very top. Everyone knew that it would be my job to referee since their boss wouldn't step up. And everyone was right! On my 30th day of work, I grew tired of watching grown men act like pitbulls and gave two week's notice for a job where my office had air conditioning.
There really is no point trying to serve two masters. You will have to choose which one you will make happy. In these verses, Jesus pits serving God against the goal of obtaining wealth. You can't serve God and serve a desire for wealth. Ironically so many preachers have tried to make the prosperity gospel work: "serve God and you will be wealthy". But it doesn't work. It conflicts with the way of Jesus.
If your goal is to become wealthy, then you need to commit to making decisions that will bring in the cash. That might mean bad-mouthing your competitors, underpaying your subcontractors and employees, breaking a few laws here and there, neglecting friends and family, robbing a bank, playing the stock market, or even betting on the fastest horse. But you gotta be willing to do whatever it takes so that your pockets are always getting fuller and fuller. If wealth is your goal, you will never ever have enough money! It is how obsession with wealth works. And you can't let the way of Jesus distract you.
But if your goal is to follow Jesus, then you need to love (even your competitors), put others (such as your employees - but even your competitors) before yourself, work for the good of others, etc. None of these things read well in mission statements and project plans. Serving God and money just don't mix. Sometimes wealth happens even though it hasn't been one's goal, but that is different from pursuing it. And even then Jesus is going to tell you to give it away.
If you are following Jesus, because you think he has promised to make you wealthy, then you aren't following Jesus.
*****
Another gospel weighs in...
Luke 16:13 "No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Matthew 6:22-23 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
How you see things determines whether you are full of light or darkness.
I know two people who do not get along with each other. Unless it is out right praise, whatever Amber says to Donald, Donald thinks Amber is being critical of him. Donald thinks this is a problem with Amber - that she doesn't really care much for him - that she feels superior to him. But I know Amber pretty well. She thinks highly of Donald. The problem is that Donald sees Amber with eyes that are unhealthy. Amber moved to Donald's small town from the big city. And Donald's experience with big city women is that they look down on his small town ways. He has no desire to travel far from home and doesn't understand people who do. Amber has traveled all over - had a big city career - and is well educated. Donald is well educated and successful too, but he got his education close to home and built a business near mom and dad. He likes his small town ways.
Amber and Donald were thrown together when Amber joined his church and was invited to serve on the church board where he had held an office for years. Amber was excited about working with Donald, but soon realized that there was nothing she could say to him - unless it was lavish praise - that wouldn't upset him. He evaluated everything she said believing that she was looking down on him, his family, and his town. If she suggested they start a clothes closet out of the church, he became angry that she thought the people in his town were poor. If she saw him at the local high school basketball game - he would not acknowledge that she was there nor would he introduce her to his friends. He thought she thought that she was too good for his family and friends.
He couldn't understand that Amber was excited to live in his small town, admired his family and friends, and wanted to be part of their lives. The problem was not with Amber; Donald was blinded by his unhealthy vision of outsiders. Donald eventually told Amber in heated tones during a board meeting that he just didn't appreciate her attitude. After that, she finished up her commitments on the board as quickly as possible - not without enduring quite a bit of sustained abuse during those days (I guess he wanted to be certain she wouldn't change her mind about leaving) and moved onto another church.
How you see determines whether there is light inside you or darkness. Donald missed out on knowing someone really interesting and fun - someone who loved Jesus - someone he could have worked with to make his community an even better place - someone who actually liked him without condition - someone who had the best interest of his church and community in mind. Instead of letting this person brighten his life, he sealed himself off and lived in his darkness.
We often do this to Jesus. We invite him in when he is lavishing praise on us and blessing us, but we throw him out when he speaks truth into our lives. We hear what he says when it supports our lifestyle, but have no use for Jesus when his teachings sound insulting and hard.
How we see Jesus determines whether we are filled with light or darkness.
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Another gospel weighs in...
Luke 11:34-36 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays."
The world says, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins." Jesus says....
Matthew 6:19-21 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:33-34 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms*. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. *Giving alms = giving to those in need
The early Christians took this teaching seriously: "There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need" (Acts 4:34-35).
Are we this committed to following Jesus? Some people have the idea that in the Kingdom of God, there is no one in need, because the economy is good and there is an unlimited supply. We often believe that in the Kingdom of God, consumerism isn't a problem because God just magically produces enough to match our needs. BUT what if... in the Kingdom of God, there is no one in need, because wealth is redistributed willingly, lovingly, compassionately, unconditionally? What if this kingdom is made up of servants not consumers?
And what if Jesus was teaching that his followers were to begin living this way today? Not because we are forced to do so by laws or church leaders, but because Jesus told us to? How would our lives look differently? How would we model this in front of our children? Would our faith communities be supportive of this lifestyle - would they have our backs in times of hardship or would they mock our choice to follow this teaching of Jesus?
Presbyterians (the denomination in which I am ordained) used to start hospitals, schools, and orphanages. We can barely keep our churches open today. And yet, we own bigger houses, have bigger savings accounts, and send our kids to more expensive schools than our ancestors. Have we lost the way of Jesus?
Matthew 6:16-18 16 "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Jesus seems to be giving mixed messages. First, he says to "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). But then he says, "whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others" (Matthew 6:2). Then he says not to pray on the public street corner, but in your closet and now he says not to let others know that you are fasting.
It seems inconsistent until we realize that it is all about what motivates us. If you let people see your good works, make sure you are doing it so they will praise God. But if your motive is to be rewarded, then it is better to do it so no one will know.
Whatever you do today... whether it is fasting - or giving away money - or doing some good deed, if you let others know what you are doing, make sure your motivation is to bring glory to God.
Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."
Later in Matthew, Jesus tells a story (Mt 18:21-35):
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
One of my Christian counseling professors pointed out that a book called "The Wounded Healer" had become popular. And that it was becoming trendy to hold onto our wounds with pride. It has become cool to stand in front of your friends and say, "I have abandonment issues", but not "I have been healed of my abandonment issues." It is cool to stand in front of your friends and say, "Pray for me, I can't forgive someone who has hurt me." But it is not cool to say, "I forgave someone who hurt me." We live in a Christianity where being wounded is cool, but being healed is arrogant. Our professor poised the question to us, "Instead of being the wounded healer, why not just get healed?" Jesus wants to heal you.
Being healed requires we both forgive and accept forgiveness.
I once had a neighbor who wore her "I have abandonment issues" badge with pride everywhere she went. If she were rude, it was because of her abandonment issues. Everyone was supposed to understand and excuse her behavior. If she didn't want to go out to eat where the rest of her family wanted to go - well, if they loved her, then they'd better go to her favorite restaurant or she would feel abandoned again and the night (perhaps the whole weekend) would be completely ruined for everyone! The rest of the world was supposed to acknowledge that she had been hurt and that she deserved special consideration because of it for the rest of her life. The world was to understand that she was to be forgiven her rude behavior and demands. But that because of her abandonment issues, she was excused from forgiving others.
The person who prides themselves with their wounds has not accepted God's power to be healed and forgiven. Nor have they let themselves be transformed into a forgiving person.
We are never more Christ-like than when we forgive others - especially those who do not deserve it.
