Are you a Chicken or a Pig?

Introduction

Mark 10:17–22 KJV 1900

17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Body

Open with Bro. Bell and Bro. Terry’s attitude of sacrifice

The farmer sat down to breakfast with his family and he asked his sons “Boys, do you know why I love my pigs more than I do my chickens?”

The farmer looked at his plate and said “The chickens are involved in my breakfast, but the pigs are commited to it!”

Involvement will cost you something, but commitment will cost you everything!

Commitment means you’ve taken ownership.

Instead of finding excuses not to do something, you’re finding excuses to do it.

Instead of looking for excuses to miss church, you’re finding excuses to get to church

Instead of finding excuses to not pray, or read your bible, you’re finding excuses to pray, and read your bible

We can always find excuses, lets find the right ones!

Historical examples of those sold out, commited to truth

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego

Daniel 3:1–7 KJV 1900

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

The king had the authority to make this decree - it was perfectly legal

The people were legally bound to honor the edict of the king

Daniel 3:8–12 KJV 1900

8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The king was made aware of some lawbreakers!

The king had instituted a perfectly legal law and his subjects were obligated to obey said law

Daniel 3:13–15 KJV 1900

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

The king was angry, but feeling merciful. He was willing to give them a second chance

Why weren’t the Jewish men submitting to this legal authority?

Didn’t they understand that this isn’t the way to win someone to God?

This is a very poor witness!

How are they going to be able to influence these heathen this way?

Doesn’t God want us to be happy? Comfortable? Blessed?!?!?

Why would God put His people in a situation like this?

Daniel 3:16–18 KJV 1900

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Why are they disobeying their lawful authority?

There’s only one problem here: the king’s law is in direct opposition to God’s law

The Jewish men wanted to follow the laws of the land, but not when it meant violating God’s laws because their commitment was to God!

Not to peace, not to comfort, not to happiness, and not to material gain

They were commited to the truth of God’s Word. Their commitment was to their God…no matter what!!

Daniel 3:19–30 KJV 1900

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.

I find it hilarious how God completely switches things around

All the reasons I’ve heard people use for not taking a stand for Jesus Christ God brings to pass for the three Jewish men because they took a stand for God!

“I can’t serve God or my fellow man if I’m dead” - God protects them and keeps them alive

“If I’m combative with my faith, no one will respond to me” - They were polite and submitted to the punishment, but they would not compromise truth. Because of this, EVERYONE listened to, and heard, their message, and because of their obedience, God was glorified and exalted.

“God doesn’t want me to face that! He wants to bless me” - God did bless them AND He promoted them, but only after they demonstrated their faith and their commitment to God

Scripture text

Jesus was simply pointing out the rich young ruler’s weak area - his happened to be money

I don’t doubt that was the prevailing problem with the Jewish nation as a whole

What’s our problem area as a nation? Time!

Something I feel like we worship more than any one thing in this country is our valuable time!

When we put anything before God, it becomes the object of our worship!

Let’s substitute that into our scripture text and see what it looks like:

Mark 10:21 “21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, give all your time, all that thou hast to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”

Mark 10:22 “22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”

I’ve noticed a common denominator in our congregation. When the enemy attacks, it’s to take away our time so that we’re not able, or much less willing, to come to church.

I’ve heard enough complaints for me to be concerned about us

“Please don’t schedule church events on such-and-such day”

“We’re already at church too much as it is”

I know people have jobs and you have to work.

Can God provide a better job, giving you more money, and be completely free and able to attend every service?

Is that what’s keeping you from attending every service? Let’s say God did that for you? Would you then attend every service?

Let’s get off of services. How about time in general?

Can God get you up early if He needs you?

Can God ask you to stay up late if He needs you?

Can God impose Himself on your plans or your schedule if He needs you?

We need to lose the idea that this is our time. That I do enough. I give enough.

Can I trust God with my finances? I can trust Him with my time also.

Luke 17:5–10 KJV 1900

5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. 7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Conclusion

Want more faith? Want to be used mightily of God?

Do what the three Jewish men did. Commit yourselves to God unreservedly!

Understand all of this (treasure, talent AND time) is not yours. It’s God’s!

We never sacrifice. We never give more than we ought. We are simply doing that which is required of us. We’re just doing our duty.