"One More Thing" Syndrome
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· 9 viewsWhenever we are called to "take up our cross daily and follow" Him, we are always quick to find "one more thing" we have to do before we can fully follow God. We need to break the "one more thing" syndrome and follow God with all our heart, mind, and soul.
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning and welcome back.
This morning we are going to be looking at a passage in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9.
In just a moment I will be reading from verses 57-62, but before we get to that, we need to set the stage around what is going one at the time.
We are going to go into some of the events that took place in Jesus' final days/months before the crucifixion.
Scholars don't really know how long of a time period is covered in these chapters of Luke, but do know it was during Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem.
Also known is that once Jesus arrived in Jerusalem that things would end with Him being crucified and the disciples scattered.
So, Jesus knowing this, is trying to prepare His disciples for the things to come in the very near future.
Jesus knows and understands just how tough it is going to be to be a Christian in the days after the crucifixion, so He is trying to get them ready.
And in doing so, we see here Jesus addressing three different men who by all accounts were of the "72" that Jesus would send out.
And just as a refresher, do we remember who the 70 were?
In Luke 10, it records. . . .
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
And the reason we think that the ones Jesus is addressing in our passage are part of the 72 he sends out in Luke 10 is because of the command He gives to them, particularly the second one . . .
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
And the idea of “going and proclaiming the Kingdom of God,” is the key there.
And just so we are clear, this wasn’t just something Jesus was telling these few to do.
This is a command that we all should heed.
Look at the end of Matthew . . .
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
And then over in Acts 1 . . .
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
So these words of Jesus wasn't just for those disciples, but for us also.
And, just FYI another reason, that it is believed that these are those 72, is, immediately after this in chapter 10, Jesus sends them out!
All of that is good, but what is the problem Jesus is going to be addressing here?
It is a big problem for these disciples, but also a big problem that we also face today.
I call it the "Just one more thing" syndrome.
And we all know what that is.
And probably we have all been guilty of it at one point or another as well.
You know, we say, "Lord, if you'll just let me do this one more thing, then I'll follow you."
"There's just one more thing, I need to take care of . . . ."
Sound familiar?
So this morning I would like to look into that and see how Jesus dealt with it!
Looking at Luke 9, starting in verse 57 . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No-one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Consider What You Are Saying
Consider What You Are Saying
Now we can see how this problem progresses and manifests itself.
But looking back at verses 57 and 58 . . .
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
So, the first man comes to Jesus and tells Him, "Lord, I'll follow you wherever you go."
And to us that sound's good.
Sound's like he is a pretty dedicated Christian.
Even almost sounds a little like Peter doesn't it . . .
Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Remember this conversation?
This was the night they were coming to get Jesus, to take Him to the cross.
He knew the end was near and he was telling the disciples all about what was going to be happening.
He was warning them that they would be scattered, "offended" or "stumble."
And Peter's response was, NEVER! Not me Jesus!
But, Jesus knew better though . . . .
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.”
But Peter being stubborn old Peter . . .
But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
“I won't deny you! I would rather die with you than deny you!"
And that is the same mentality that Jesus is dealing with here.
The disciple here is on fire for the Lord, ready to save the world!
But he didn't understand the cost!
So, Jesus tells him . . . .
Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
In other words, it's not a easy life, an easy path.
Sometimes it get's lonely.
Sometimes people don't like it when you point out their line of thinking, way of living is wrong.
Sometimes people don't like it when you tell them that their way is not lining up with Scripture.
Sometimes people don't like it when you tell them that without Jesus, they are not going to heaven.
They reject the Word and they reject you!
And Jesus is asking, Are you ready for that?
Do you understand what the job really is?
Now why do you think Jesus is telling him this?
Do you think it is because Jesus doesn't want this person as a disciple?
Wants to scare him away?
Of course not!
Jesus wants this disciple to be educated and informed, so he will be able to endure till the end.
So he will be able to endure the hard times.
Let’s just be honest, it is easy to be a Christian when everything is going good and falling into place.
But what about in those bad times, dark times, lonely times?
It gets a little tougher then.
Jesus understands that this disciple is making a commitment with a lack of understanding.
And that is what so many of us do too.
We say Lord I will go wherever you tell me, do whatever you tell me to do!
That's good but do we really understand?
We can't just get saved and jump right out there in the middle of the battle.
We have to train, prepare, do the hard work!
We have to fast, pray, study, prepare.
Because if we don't the devil will chew us up and spit us back out.
Not because he is stronger, but because we don't yet understand what we need to do when things get tough.
And let’s be clear, it is not IF things get tough but WHEN things get tough, because they will!
We have to know WHO to turn to, and HOW to deal with it!
This disciple didn't and so many of us don't either.
That's why we get discouraged, down and out, don't know where to go!
Well, we need to take a step back and get grounded in Jesus first!
Let the Dead Bury the Dead
Let the Dead Bury the Dead
But there's a also a different group also that we fall into . . . .
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Now that is harsh isn't it!
After all, all he wants to do is go and bury his daddy, don't he?
-Wrong! For centuries this verse has been misconstrued and misused by group and after group.
There are two possibilities here.
This guys father is not even dead yet.
He is dead but is already buried.
So, how do we know this and that he hasn't just died?
Jewish law and tradition.
According to Jewish law and tradition, if the man had just died, this disciple wouldn't even be there.
He would have immediately went to the family to do his part.
The conversation wouldn't be taking place.
So, the most likely scenario is that this disciple's father is aged in years and could possibly die at any time.
It could happen that day, the next, or it could be months or years away.
Really, no different than with us.
We don't know when we are going to depart this world.
So what this disciple is saying in essence, is "Lord let me take care of this one thing, before I come and follow you!"
Now this one thing could take a week, month, year, or several years.
Bottom line is that this disciple is making an excuse!
And the second possible option is not much different.
Also, according to Jewish law and tradition, once a person dies, the family is ceremonially unclean during the mourning period.
Therefore, this man wouldn't have been around if his father had just died.
He would be unclean and not permitted to be around others.
However, another part of Jewish law and tradition is that once a person is dead and buried, after one year the family will go back and gather the bones and "re-bury" them in a permanent tomb.
This disciple could be talking about this, but again this could be up to a year down the road!
So, again, he is putting Jesus off.
“Lord give me some time, let me take care of that one thing!”
Here's how we do it . . .
Lord, let me take care of this one thing at work, then I'll follow you.
Lord, let me finish school then I'll follow you.
Lord, let me retire, then I'll follow you.
Lord, let me kids get grown, then I'll follow you.
Lord, let me get my bills paid, then I'll follow you.
AND THE BIGGEST ONE . . . .
Lord, let me work out this one problem in my life, then I'll follow you . . .
That my friends is the biggest lie of Satan.
Making us think that we can work out anything on our own.
Yes, we can come up with some temporary fixes, but we have no solutions.
We can't work it out on our own, but Jesus can work it out for us!
Remember what Jesus said . . .
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
But we have to give it to Him and let him work it out.
So, that’s why Jesus responds the way he does . . .
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
And what He is telling the disciple is a rebuke.
He is telling him to quit procrastinating.
Let the SPIRITUALLY dead bury the PHYSICALLY dead, you go and proclaim the gospel!
There are more important things that traditions of the dead.
They are already dead, there's nothing you can do for them.
Can you preach to the physically dead?
Can the physically dead be saved?
No!
So let those that are already Spiritually dead take care of that.
You go and proclaim the gospel to those that are Spiritually dead, before it's too late for them!
Don’t Look Back
Don’t Look Back
And the third guy . . .
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No-one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
This poor fella, had a poor excuse . . . .
Lord, I'll follow, but let me go home first and tell everybody good bye.
In other words, Lord, let me go and say goodbye to my old life first.
Lord let me finish this one last job, work this one last weekend.
Lord let me miss church this one last time.
Lord, let me indulge in this sin one more time, then I'll give it up.
Lord, let me take this one last drink then I'll quit.
Lord, let me take this one last pill, this one last draw, this one last hit, stick this needle in one more time, snort it one more time, then I PROMISE I'll follow you.
Does any of this sound familiar?
The problem is, that "one last time," will never come.
There will always come another one and another one.
And that’s what Jesus is talking about in verse 62.
Jesus replied, “No-one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
He is saying you can't plow a straight line if you keep looking back.
In other words, you're not fit for the Kingdom of God, if you keep looking back to your old life.
Keep living in the past, keep doing it "that one last time."
Your not saved, not going to make it to heaven.
There is no repentance there. You may have made a profession, but you have never repented.
Repentance means to realize you have sinned, ask forgiveness with a sincere heart, and TURN AWAY from that sin, that lifestyle.
Quit looking back.
Remember Lot’s wife?
What happened to her?
But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
She kept looking back, longing for that old life.
She wanted to get just one more glimpse of it.
One more time . .
Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
And Paul reminds us . . .
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.
There is nothing in that old life worth looking back to.
No matter what Satan tries to convince you, it is not worth it.
Nothing is worth missing heaven, NOTHING.
No job, no drug, no person, no lifestyle.
Listen, the end is coming and here is what the Bible says about it . . .
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
And . . .
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
And . . .
But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
And finally . . .
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Altar/Challenge
Altar/Challenge
Our altar call/challenge is simple.
Are we suffering from the “one more thing syndrome?”
If we are Jesus can heal us.
Do we want him to?
Will we let him?
Let’s pray . . .