When Is Enough, Enough?

When Is Enough, Enough? Mark 6:8-11; Acts 13:49-52 When Is Enough, Enough? When have you had enough of a certain situation you have been in? When have you had enough and are feeling tired, weak, burnt out? When have you had enough and are about to give up or give in? When have you had enough setbacks, trials, battles, fears, or questions? When is enough, enough? When do you hit that breaking point? How do you recognize it when enough is enough? And what do you do? In this world, it's easy to have enough of something. And Jesus teaches us that when we hit that point of Enough is Enough, to "shake the dust off our feet;" to leave. Let me share a story with you about a recent time I had to "shake the dust off my feet." Not long ago, I logged onto Facebook and went to one of my favorite pages. It's a Christian page with jokes, Bible verses, famous quotes, and stuff like that. If you've ever been to my Facebook page, you'll have seen posts that I have shared before from that Christian page. But this time, the share button was gone. I wondered why, and found a recent post where someone asked the same question, "Why is the share button gone?" People were quick to respond, saying that the page administrators decided to make it a private page. Everything was now private, and a consequence of that is the share button is deleted. They decided to make it a private page because too many spammers tried to corrupt the clean Christian page. These spammers would post rude comments, sexually explicit material, and make fun of Christians. So, they decided to keep the outside, outside, and make it a private page. Now, folks, I'm all for not being influenced by the world. I don't want to see, or anyone else to see anything derogatory. And I certainly don't like it when people are made fun of. But in this list of Facebook comments, I made my own comment. It went something like this: "I don't like the idea of a private Christian page. Maybe that's what is wrong with the world today; too many Christians want to keep things private. What if all it takes is someone seeing a Christian post to make them think about their actions and turn their life around? Remaining private is not reaching the world." How do you think they responded to my comment? Oh, they hated it! I got comment after comment about how stupid and wrong I was. I got made fun of. I was told reaching others for Christ was "throwing pearls to pigs" (Matthew 7:6). If that sounds familiar, "throwing pearls to pigs" is what Jesus said in Matthew 7:6 about not entrusting holy teachings to unholy people. But Jesus didn't say evangelism is "throwing pearls to pigs?" Is it a waste of time trying to reach people for Christ? Never! I agree with Jesus in Matthew 7:6 because if you stay around unholy people too much, they will try to "tear you to pieces," as Jesus warns us about. The temptation to sin will increase. "The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16) will try to persuade you. But sharing the Gospel with others is never a waste, and Jesus didn't say so either! Much like in life, the nature of Facebook is that you will be around many different people. Not everyone thinks like you. Not everyone will accept you. Not everyone will follow you. Not everyone will like what you have to say. That's ok. What's not ok is hanging around those kinds of people because their bad influence can "tear you apart," as Jesus says. It can tempt you to compromise your beliefs, which is why we need to "shake the dust off our feet." And I believe all of us can share stories of getting made fun of, looked down upon, being used, or being rejected. When enough is enough, it can hurt. In today's Scripture, Acts 13:49-52, we can see Paul and Barnabas also being rejected. They were on their first of three missionary journey's and "The Word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region." Paul and Barnabas were preaching, teaching, and bringing people to Christ. But this was not without any difficulty. Even though this is early in Paul's ministry, throughout his life, Paul was stoned, beaten, whipped, jailed, snake bit, and shipwrecked. He usually went without food, water, and barely any sleep. He traveled, had no permanent home, and served others more than himself. So tell me, when do you think enough was enough for Paul? Verse 50 says, "But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from the region." The Jews gathered together all the powerful people. People who were good at making an argument and giving speeches. People who had a quick wit. People who came together so the sounds of many voices would drown out the Christian voices. For Paul and Barnabas, it sounded like just another day until the people "expelled them from the region." Did Paul and Barnabas overstay their welcome? Sounds like it. They didn't know when enough was enough until the townspeople had enough and threw them out. For Paul, being persecuted was just a part of Christianity. He had such zeal, such hope for people to repent and accept Christ as Savior, that persecution was a small price to pay if people came to Jesus. The people rejected Paul and Barnabas because, as The Message Bible says, "their precious way of life was about to be destroyed." On that Facebook page, someone posted a cartoon showing Adam and Eve and their first daughter. She was dressed provocatively and had a belly button ring. Adam and Eve were mad about the way she was intentionally showing off her body, and their daughter angrily responded, "Mom, Dad, you don't have a belly button. You wouldn't understand!" Everyone who saw that cartoon laughed and laughed. They laughed because it wasn't happening to them. It wasn't affecting their life. Now, had Adam and Eve's daughter been their daughter, things would be different, and any laughter would have caused pain. People can have this false impression of life that everything is just perfect, and they can laugh away other people's problems, so it doesn't hit too close to home or make public what they want to keep private. There can be professing Christians who are no different. They make fun of things without trying to fix things. They can say they need to serve others but never do. They can save money for future ministry that never takes place. They can upgrade buildings only for fewer and fewer people to use them. They can form clicks and are friendly to each other, but not to outsiders trying to become insiders. They can be fast to judge and slow to show grace. When people, Christian or not, are confronted by a disturbing truth, it's easy to turn away and refuse to listen. It interrupts their private space and becomes personal. They don't want it affecting their perfect life or revealing the fact that their life may not be as perfect as they make it out to be. So they get bitter. They're quick to anger. They either slow down or speed up the pace of life with work and hobbies or whatever they can so they can dodge anything, any truth, that makes them examine themselves in light of truth. If you're living in sin, the Gospel can be a disturbing truth when it confronts you. But I say, "Let the truth disturb you!" Learn when enough is enough and shake off the sinful dust from your feet! That way, there's room to grow more into God's image. But sadly, when a person pushes away the truth, and keeps pushing it away, they'll push it so far away that it no longer affects them. They become private, even in public. That's what bothers me so much about the Facebook story I shared with you. They were quick to push away anything that disturbs them. Keep in mind that when you feel enough is enough, when you've been ridiculed or hurt, when you've suffered persecution or have shared your faith with someone, and they don't accept your message, they're not rejecting you; they're rejecting Jesus. Rejection is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, rejection is something rejected as imperfect or useless. People don't see their need for a Savior. Rejection as a verb is a refusal to acknowledge. It's refusing to accept. It's to throw out as useless or worthless. It's people wanting to stay in darkness rather than live in the light. Rejection feels so personal. People struggle with the pain of rejection in relationships, careers, and every other area of life. The truth is rejection hurts. It makes you want to curl up privately and cry. Paul and Barnabas were rejected, but look what they did, "They shook off the dust from their feet." They didn't take it personally. Shaking off the dust is like shrugging your shoulders or washing your hands of something. I'm not saying it doesn't hurt, but it allows you not to dwell on what you can't fix. It allows you to give it to God and let the Holy Spirit take over for you. But what made them "shake the dust off their feet?" It seems like a weird thing to just do. Well, back in Jesus' time, and even before Jesus was born, Jews would "shake the dust off their feet" after passing through a Gentile city. They did so as a sign showing their separation from the Gentiles. If you look at the 2nd half of today's Scripture (Mark 6:8-11), Jesus transforms this sign in a positive way. Jesus teaches us when "any place will not welcome you or receive you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet." You might have been welcomed in that place for hours, days, weeks, or even years, but if something begins to no longer receive you, do all the good you can, but don't allow it to harm you or to make you doubt your faith. When enough is enough, leave. Don't stay around when people don't want you around. If they wish to remain private, let them, because Jesus still sees what's done in private. Every person can provide joy in some way. One person may do so by entering a room, another by leaving a room. You have to know when to enter and when to leave. That's why Jesus warns us to "Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt." When is food enough? When is money enough? When are earthly possessions that "the moth and rust destroy" (Matthew 6:19-20) enough? Take nothing with you that you'll rely upon more than you'll rely upon Jesus. Too many Christians think they have to add something to their faith. They think they have to add something to Jesus or do something themselves to be successful in ministry. But I tell you, sometimes knowing when enough is enough is being successful. Jesus commands all Christians to enter into evangelism by speaking and acting in a manner pleasing to God, and "shaking the dust off your feet" is knowing when to leave before your beliefs become shaken by people or places that try to separate you from Jesus. But how do you know when it's time to leave? What does it look like? When Is Enough, Enough? It's when people reject the Gospel. When people refuse to reason and listen to truth. When people attempt to harm you, physically or emotionally. When people degrade you, mock you, use you, take advantage of you, or use God's Word against you. Enough is enough when you are being tempted. When you feel the pressure to conform to those who are trying to "tear you to pieces" (Matthew 7:8). When you desire the worldly more than the heavenly. When people flat out refuse the Gospel, then it's time to "shake the dust off your feet," because just like Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:52, you'll be "filled with joy and the Holy Spirit," as you go somewhere else where the people will be more receptive. When have you had enough of a certain situation you have been in? When have you had enough and are feeling tired, weak, burnt out? When have you had enough and are about to give up or give in? When have you had enough setbacks, trials, battles, fears, or questions? Then "shake the dust off" the "gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15). Open God's Word, and find joy in God's grace. But don't do so selfishly, only pleasing yourself for the moment. Pray, be strengthened in the company of other faithful believers, and "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). When enough is enough, rely upon Christ's strength more than your own. Remember that Christ has overcome, and you only can overcome when you're in Christ. Trust in God's resources more than your own. Money, clothes, and food are all needed in life and can all be used in ministry, but they're not to be relied upon. God knows what is needed, so follow Christ! "Shake the dust off your feet" anytime something covers your shoes from being able to carry the Gospel to other people. Be in the world, but not of the world. Don't seclude yourself from the world, but don't succumb to it either. Maintain hope, read your Bible, pray, love your neighbor by being a servant to all, and your heart will become more like that of Christ Jesus. Don't stick around and argue with people who have no desire for Godly things. Like myself, leave that Facebook page before the hateful remarks hurt you too badly. Leave anything that gets between you and God; just remember to always pray for your neighbor. When Is Enough, Enough? God has shown you in Jesus Christ, who says, "Do this in remembrance of Me" (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). When you've had enough, "Do this in remembrance of Me" because God will "never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). When you've had enough, "Do this in remembrance of Me" because you are loved, forgiven, made new, and filled with the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. When enough is enough, "Shake the dust off your feet." Be "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit, and "Do this in remembrance of Me." AMEN 2