A Warning Against Enticement Series

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

P: Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,

C: but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 10:2

What is enticement to you?

Enticement is probably more of a concept that you know

than a word you are familiar with.

Enticement is using others for selfish gain.

Enticement is to lure or to tempt someone to do something for their own pleasure or gain.

Now, you might think this is the perfect description of a creeper

or the person on the street that is looking for their next victim.

But I think more commonly

this might be more the person you have once worked with

the person who seemed to always showed up

and you knew that their small talk was only going to last for a few seconds

but what they were more interested in talking to you about

is to ask you if you could do something that you probably wouldn’t want to do.

They might even try to butter you up by telling you what a wonderful job you have been doing

that they think you should try out this other job,

Did or would you enjoy being around this person?

Maybe this is just the challenge of working with a sales person.

But I’m sure most people you would rather be around

are the people who are just honest with you about what’s going on

and try to support you in any way that they can

… trying the help everyone do well

rather than have you spend your time dealing with someone else’s issues.

But it is okay to challenge people.

In fact,

challenging others is what helps a person grow.

Grow in their character.

Grow in their independence.

Grow in their well-being.

And a simple invitation

can also be a blessing.

And invitation

for the person engage in a new community.

… An invitation can be a more passive way of helping a person grow in their well-being.

Isn’t this a part of what Jesus did with his disciples?

His invitation for the disciples to work with him

and be mentored by him for three years

helped them thrive in a new career.

He gathered fishermen

to become missionaries.

And even Matthew, the tax collector,

who probably regularly gathered more tax money that what was required for his job

so that he would have more money for himself

--this guy became a missionary

and documented the story of Jesus Christ

so that all who hear it

would benefit.

When we are with Jesus

we have everything to gain

and nothing to lose.

Sure, we might have to give up our selfish ways,

but God’s ways are always better.

Though they may be difficult to understand.

The disciple Judas seemed to struggle to understand what Jesus was doing.

He had spent much time with Jesus

and Jesus taught him many things

and he saw many miracles

just like the rest of his disciples.

But for some reason

Judas didn’t think protecting Jesus was his first priority.

Maybe Judas was struggling with doubt about Jesus.

Perhaps Judas was wanting a messiah like the Pharisees were wanting

someone who was a military leader

not some miracle working teacher.

Maybe he was just thinking about himself

and wanted some extra money.

Nevertheless,

our Gospel lesson tells us that Satan entered into Judas.

And during this time

the Pharisees were able to make an agreement with Judas

that if they were able to arrest Jesus

then Judas would receive 30 pieces of silver

--a payment that could take Judas a long way.

Jesus,

however,

God in the flesh

knew that Judas was going to betray him.

He told all the disciples

when he instituted the Lord’s Supper

to warn them about what was going to happen.

And so they began to ask each other

“Is it I who will betray Jesus?”

But that wasn’t the only question they were asking.

They were not only asking who was the worst disciple

but who was the greatest.

And Jesus leads the conversation in saying

our conversations aren’t about who will act as the Lord over God’s people.

Rather,

they ought to be living

as servants.

For Jesus himself says

that he leads as a servant

not as someone

who takes some top authority position

and just sits back

and watch things happen.

Anyone here like people who are in charge

and don’t do anything?

I bet not.

And neither should God’s people work in a similar manner.

God’s people ought not to strive for high positions

so that they can do as little as possible.

Just like how they should not work with others and entice people

to have others do something for you were only you benefit.

The Christian community is more so about bring everything and everyone together