Purposeful Ownership Series

“Purposeful Ownership”

May 1, 2005

Intro: Today we are going to begin a series of talks dealing with living a life that matters. We want to focus on the aspects of life that really count, and look at how we are called to oversee or “steward” our lives. It is my hope that over the next few weeks you will begin to see your life in a new light and with a purposeful focus.

The first thing we must establish in life is, who is in charge? One of the hardest things to determine is who’s accountable and responsible for things.

Harry Truman used to say, “The buck stops here.”

My mom used to say, “Because I’m the Mom!”

The key question for today is, “Who’s in control of your life?”

Today we are going to look at the issue of “Purposeful Ownership.” In other words making a conscious choice of who’s in charge.

To help us in answering this question, we are going to look at the lives of two men; one from scripture, the other from a more modern era.

“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.’

‘Which ones?’ the man inquired.

Jesus replied, ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and `love your neighbor as yourself.’

‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’

Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’

Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’

Peter answered him, ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’

Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, at 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. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.’” Matthew 19:16-30(NIV)

There are several lessons to be learned from this young man’s interaction with Jesus. It is important to understand the heart of the issue and not just the surface circumstance.

This young man has it all. He is, according to tradition, around 24 years old. He is aristocratic and educated apparently in the Jewish culture. He has done all the right things but there is still a problem within. For him, life was not complete.

Have you ever asked the question:

Is this all there is?

This is the question he asked because he believed there had to be more to life than what he was experiencing.

The answer to the question is reflected in knowing you must live beyond yourself.

I. Purposeful ownership is reflected in conscious obedience.

“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’

‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.’

‘Which ones?’ the man inquired.

Jesus replied, ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and `love your neighbor as yourself.’

‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’” Matthew 19:16-20

This young man was, in human terms living a good life. However, he knew something was missing. Jesus gives him an answer based on human relationships.

Jesus is painting a picture that life must reflect obedience.

We will obey something. Something in our lives will get our allegiance. Whatever that thing is, it owns us.

The question becomes, “What will you obey?”