Oh, We Mean Well!

But does this mean we have to give everything away and live like a monk? No! Money and possessions are not evil in themselves. Money is something we all have to have...but Jesus warned His disciples to make as clean a break as possible from anything that would draw them into the world's trap.

It's not the amount of money or lack thereof that makes us either holy or sinful. It's our heart attitude about money and what it can do for us. It's very difficult for anyone who is so deeply concerned about his property and his possessions to be properly concerned about his soul.

The fourth and final warning to the well wishers and would be disciples is to keep their convictions strong and creative...not to lose their enthusiasm for the kingdom or let their loyalty to it run down.

Last week I spoke about the source of our strength, which is what? The Joy of the Lord! Here in this passage we find that Jesus is urging those who wanted to follow Him to first of all count the cost...realize what you're committing to. He doesn't want a bunch of wanna be Christians chasing "mule eggs."

He says that we're to be like salt that is really salty. What does that mean? If our convictions begin to falter...if our loyalty begins to fade...if our joy and enthusiasm begins to fizzle out...then we'll become as useless as salt that's lost its flavor.

And according to God's Word...if that happens to us we're no longer good for the soil...which means we'll never help anyone grow in the Lord. But then it says we're not even fit for the manure pile. And where do you go from there?

Oh, we mean well! I've heard it dozens of times. And good intentions and well wishing have their place...but they are never enough for any serious work of Christian discipleship...they weren't in Jesus day, and they aren't today.

Like any other great Christian leader, the apostle Paul was led by great dreams and ideas...but he was never content just to think about them. And he was never worn out by them to the point that he gave up on them.

When summing up his life's work for a young preacher named Timothy, he didn't say, "I've had a great dream...or I had a wonderful vision." Not Paul! He said, "I fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith."

One of the Steelers coined the phrase "60 minute men"...and it meant that they were in the game for a full 60 minutes...no matter what the score. 60 minute men don't get discouraged and slack off or quit when it looks like all is lost....and they don't quit when it looks like they're so far ahead no one can catch them. They don't give up...they don't get complacent.

Life is not a game...and our work for God is not a game...yet it is compared to a race. God wants us to know exactly what we're involved in. We need to count the cost of being a true, faithful Christian. And once we do....we need to either get in or get out.

God wants 60 minute men and women...He wants people who aren't chasing "mule eggs" ... who aren't just half hearted, well wishers with no real commitment. Jesus calls us to make a choice. "Who do we love the most?" If its Jesus, then we need to take up our cross...and follow Him.

Taking up your cross means there's no turning back. It's a one way trip to the place where we submit ourselves to God and His will...completely and totally. Where do you stand today?