I Respect You Series

Introduction – Play video clip “The most important thing” Is it true that our life is just a dash between two dates; we must then ask the question “What is the most important thing in this life”

To some the most important thing is to gain and to gather – for them life is one big treasure hunt where they pursue the next big treasure or possession.

To others the most important thing is personal fulfillment – Google “100 things to do before you die” and you will discover many lists made by people who seeking personal thrills by doing everything from traveling around the world to “sucker punching their boss” all in the hopes that 1 or the 100 things will give them fulfillment.

Still some people believe the most important thing is to leave a legacy to be remembered by. In other words do something, invent something or become famous or infamous so that no one will forget you.

What is the most important thing in life? I have good news, the most important thing in life is not found in gathering things, in personal fulfillment, or in leaving a legacy. For Christ followers the most important thing in all of life is found in Mark’s gospel; Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.31The second is this: ’Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31.

The most important thing in all of life is living God honoring relationships – First with God himself, loving him wholeheartedly with mind body and spirit and second is to love one another as we love ourselves.

For most of us, we can get a handle on that first command – in fact, most us of could say we have heard hundreds of sermons and lessons on the need to love God. We would not be here today, if we did not love God.

The second command that is the one that gets us in trouble – the loving others as we love ourselves. Loving others can be difficult, because at times we are…

Porcupine people – we don’t want to get close to others – but it is only when we get close are we able to say those words – I NEED YOU

Another reason we don’t like to get close is our “As is” tags may show up, from a distance we can hide our brokenness, but up close people see our flaws and our imperfections and so we have to say – I AM SORRY

In the greatest sermon ever preached, Jesus focused on the two greatest commands of scripture. To love God and to love others – it is in these two relationships we find our fulfillment and our purpose. In the beatitudes we have looked at the statements Jesus has made and discovered how these statements relate to our relationships.

We have noticed how each statement has built upon the previous one. As you climb this relationship ladder, you discover all of life is about being bonded to God and bonded to one another.

Step one poor in spirit – the ability to say I need you

Step two, blessed are those who mourn, the broken – those who can say – I am sorry

Once we have a grip on those two statements, we are now ready for the third rung of the relationship ladder; Found in Matthew 5.

(Men) 1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,

(Women) 2 and he began to teach them saying:

(Men) 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(women) 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Verse 5, let’s read that verse together

(all) 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

I want you to notice three items about this beatitude this morning

Jesus’ teaching is Revolutionary--remember to whom Jesus was speaking.

Jesus had announced the Kingdom was at hand, in other words, the King had arrived.

The Jews had carnal expectations of earthly power and dominion for their Messiah.

They thought of pomp, former glory and military might.

They must have thought there was some mistake--poor in spirit, mourners, and now we have to be meek?

In the mind of the Jews, meekness suggests lowliness of mind, humility, lack of self-assertion--how are these going to take over the world by being meek?

Once again, God’s ways are not our ways.

Not only was this teaching revolutionary, it also entirely Relevant.

Think about it, Jesus sitting on a mountaintop speaking to a group of people almost 2,000 years ago about a coming kingdom. It all seems so far away--surely his idea of meekness does not apply to me the 21st century!