God’s Vision For A Selfless Society

Introduction

Over the last few weeks I have attempted to preach a sermon series entitled Why? It’s a series that covers what we believe, why we believe, why we should come to church, why we should participate in baptism and the sacraments, and a host of other things that will equip us for what we are called to do. However, I have not had the Lord’s permission to proceed with this series. It is not that I don’t think these things are important. Rather, I just don’t have the confirmation from God that this is the time. There seems to be something more important to God than this planned series.

I literally sat on the edge of my bed yesterday morning, and I asked the Lord to identify which sermon I am to preach today. Then, I sat in silence. As I sat there with my eyes closed and nothing but the traffic of interstate and a couple of sounds from my children as they wandered through the house, I saw faces of sorrow.

I saw families that were broken

I saw children who were hungry

I saw fathers who were exhausted

I saw marriages that were falling apart

I saw mothers who were worried and bothered by the troubles of life

As I contemplated this sight, it was clear to me what I should preach. God made it abundantly clear to me that we all can do a very great job hided the problems that we face every single day of our lives. We mask our cares and our problems behinds smiles, laughs, and other pleasures of life. Yet, when all of these things are spent—we all desire something more. What Solomon stated long ago is actually true. All is vanity.

If I can be honest—life is hard. No one can adequately understand just how difficult life is until they have lived it.

Therefore, we are left with a critical question: What makes for a good life? To go deeper—what leads to the life God has ordained for His children? The answer is found in this one question:

Will I sacrifice the less gratifying pleasures of this present time for the more abundant inheritance of eternity?

All of us are faced with this question and it is one that we must answer every single day of our lives. This is the basis of our text for today.

My point: I want to show you today that God always requires us to give up the one thing that makes us comfortable in less than comfortable situations so we can learn to depend on Him.

The Young Rich Ruler

Introductory Point: If we are honest, none of what we ask God for is actually what we want. Most of what we ask God for is our way to get what we actually want.

We ask for money…we really want security.

We ask for a great relationship…we really want presence and community.

We ask God for entrepreneurship…we really want freedom.

Yet, the things we are asking for are indicative of the idols we unknowingly worship in our lives. Because those things are what we imagine can make us comfortable in a very chaotic world.

But what happens when God asks you to get rid of the very thing that makes you comfortable to receive what you really want from Him?

The young rich ruler wanted eternal life. Great! He did everything that leaves him comfortable, but when God asked for His possessions, eternal life was not so appealing.

Tension: For many of us, the problem is not giving up everything, it is that we have given up everything and are willing to give up more.

Look at Peter’s question in Matthew 19:27 “27 Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?””

Jesus’s response is consoling in Matthew 19:28 “28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

God’s vision was for those who are exchanging this temporary pleasure for an eternal inheritance to receive lots more of what they have given up in the kingdom of God. In other words, times of refreshing were right upon them.

Point #2: What you give up is far less than what you will return.

This is a hope that is to be anticipated right here on earth.

See Luke 18:29–30 “29 So he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come.””

Point #3: What I’m seeking is proof of the God I’m serving.

Matthew 6:24–34 “24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ …”