Run from your idea of comfort

This is most likely a sermon for an audience of one, me. God put these parables on my heart so vehemently that I finally had to sit down and do something I never in my life thought I would do. I made this sermon. If any of you are like me you navigate to places of comfort and you abhor anything that even remotely resembles change. My wife can attest to this, I am the first person to opt out of anything that isn’t familiar or easy. My adult life has been a remarkable contrast over my teenage and young adult life. As a kid I was the first person to jump in, in most cases, without ever looking at the landing. It was a kind of defence mechanism for me. This layer of machismo that people were either really drawn to or completely repulsed over. There were so many times in my youth that I never thought about tomorrow. And never giving God credit for the today. My bravado turned into a kind of armor that protected me from the sharp criticisms from people who would demand more of me. As time went on I became older and more pragmatic, especially since my children were born. Not knowing that through every character flaw and misstep God was working. As time moved forward (picture a pendulum) I curbed my extreme behavior for extreme safety. Safety from my bad decisions and from others. Over the past 13 years I have taken almost every opportunity to stay when I should have gone or to say no when God wanted me to say yes. I can find a part of myself that needs to change in probably every parable in the book of Luke. And like Jesus says in Luke 12:2

Luke 12:2 KJV 1900

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

This sermon is God provoking me to shine His light on some of the things I covet within myself. I pray that through this I find his answer to the earnest prayers I have prayed in silence. Thank you God for your love and relentless grace!

1435 You may readily judge whether you are a child of God or a hypocrite by seeing in what direction your soul turns in seasons of severe trial. The hypocrite flies to the world and finds a sort of comfort there. But the child of God runs to his Father and expects consolation only from the Lord’s hand.—59.20

Charles Spurgeon

Prayer

“Heavenly Father I pray that your words can come from my mouth. I pray that you continue to allow me to be courageous in this way. That you continue to give me the strength to lean into the changes that bring me closer to you. Thank you for provoking me to action, thank you for your patience with me as I fail time and time again. “

Luke 16:19 (KJV 1900)

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Jesus is illustrating that the rich man was happy living in excess every day. He made sure that he had the best of everything and it is clear here that this is where the rich man put his faith. The rich man had no earthly needs and gave no thought to his spiritual needs. This isn’t to say that the rich man had no idea of God or Heaven. While the bible doesn’t make clear who this rich person was, the rich man cried out Luke 16:24

Luke 16:24 KJV 1900

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

“Father, Abraham” so he had have been told who God is and who Abraham was. What might not be clear, but I believe is, is that the rich man conflated his earthly possessions with heavenly blessings. Because he was blessed he had no reason to look to anywhere else. Luke 16:25 The world has created a society that is happy to walk past others. Society never pushes a biblical agenda, to the contrast our society pushed a worldly agenda. Our society encourages everyone to live the best version of themselves they can. Only in the most horrific cases does our society tell people to deny their desires. We have been lead to have no meaningful connections to anyone, not ourselves and especially not God. Day after day we highlight the worst of us while pushing agendas that promote the worst in us. In place of meaningful connections we have superficial dialog, Facebook posts and photos take the place of dinner with friends and family game nights. “Youtube” church has taken the place of in person fellowship. And while there is nothing wrong with catching a sermon online, especially for those who aren’t able to be in person. God tells us Hebrews 10:24-25 that we should be meeting together. So that we can provoke each other to good works. It is so easy to provoke hatred over the internet, look no farther than our local chatter pages. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to provoke positive meaningful change on the internet? It is all but impossible. If you ever mention a biblical representation of Christ the internet LOSES IT’S MIND! Remember, technology has us more connected than ever. Don’t be fooled friends that is the enemy talking. And the enemy lives on the internet where no one is ever held accountable to what they say, except those who speak the truth. If we were connected in the way Jesus desires we would seek out personal relationships with each other, we would meet with each other, we would get to know each other, we would be bold in our assertion of faith and God’s love. We went from being a country on first name basis with their neighbors to a country that couldn’t name two of them. We have to get back to a place where salvation is the priority and loving our neighbors as Christ is the goal. That is the way that Jesus wants us to live. Matt 16:25

Jesus is telling his disciples that we have to be living for more than what we can gain in the world. Trust me when I say that I know this is hard, for me some days it feels impossible. I struggle so much with this concept, money and physical comfort have become crutches to me. I find myself like the prodigal son Luke 15:13

Luke 15:13 KJV 1900

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Propping up a happiness that is built on dust. Instead of a happiness built on the love of Christ. It is so hard for me, in the moment, to remember the true joy I have felt sitting and talking with my family. Just enjoying who they are, those moments aren’t about the new best thing or how much money we have or don’t. Letting them know how much they are loved, who loved them first and now that I am saved loving and leading them fully, not perfectly because I am the farthest thing from perfect. But in the right direction. A direction that leads to Christ. Sharing stories of our days and how God is moving in our lives. Knowing that one day God will save them as well is a joy that I never expected to have, but a hope for a joy I cannot live without.

How often do we strive to live a life of comfort whether it be financial, physical or emotional. If I am being honest I see so much of the Prodigal Son in myself. I want to live a life of ease and access spoiling my inheritance on temporary comfort and a worldly idea of what will make me truly happy. And I am SOO grateful that we serve a God who is always there to welcome us home. A God that loves us so much that He sent Jesus to Calvary to pay for the transgressions of anyone who believes in Him.

Let us take a look at Luke 12:16

Luke 12:16 KJV 1900

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

This is the parable of a man who finally felt like he had enough. He had so much abundance he tore down his smaller barns to build larger ones. A man who was relying on the work that he did to bring peace to his soul.

As broken vessels we constantly search for ways to fix ourselves. I can’t tell you how often I look to my own works for peace and comfort. I pray that one day I realize that while I can put the pieces together I don’t have any glue.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.