Three Vital Relationships: Intimacy with God
This morning I want to start a short series on a subject I have covered a half-dozen times over the past 10-12 years: Three Vital Relationships. I have covered it so often because I believe it is crucial that we fully understand how important these three relationships are to our growth as followers of Christ.
This morning we begin with the most important relationship—our relationship w/God. We follow that with our relationship with those inside the church and then those outside the church.
Tebow-mania
How many of you have heard of Tim Tebow? Tebow-mania? How big is Tebow-mania? According to the ESPN Sports Poll, Tim Tebow is now America's favorite active pro athlete. (12/’12)
Video
ESPN reporter Ed Werder says Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow is very sincere, almost childlike and allows people to get very close to him. He is a Christian, born to missionary parents, and is not shy about his faith; that is what makes him so polarizing: people either love him or they hate him.
The ESPN poll, calculated monthly, had the Denver Broncos quarterback ranked atop the list for the month of December. In the 18 years of the ESPN Sports Poll only 11 different athletes -- a list that includes Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and LeBron James -- have been No. 1 in the monthly polling.
"To put this in perspective, Tim Tebow rose to the top of the list before the end of his second pro season. It took Tiger Woods three years, LeBron James eight years and Kobe Bryant 11 years."
Tebow has done some amazing things this season. I am certainly a fan of his—though not of his team, the Denver Broncos—but I know how fickle fans can be. Tebow-mania goes far beyond the state of Colorado—though whole nation is following him. But just as they are cheering him now, if he fails to deliver he will be booed out of town. That is the nature of a fan—they have a ‘what have you done for me lately’ mentality.
Fan or Follower? The big question I want to ask this morning is: Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus?
There are a lot of people who would say they are a follower, but in reality they are nothing more then a fan. They have a ‘what have you done for me lately’ mentality. When they have a serious need, they pray more, attend church more, maybe give more—why—because they need something from God; as soon as the situation passes, God is put back on the shelf. It’s not about a relationship with Him, but more about what He can do for us.
But is that what God desires from us—a relationship based on favors?
Question: Are you more interested in Jesus for what He can do for you or for who He is?
In John chapter 6 there is a very familiar story about the time Jesus feed the 5000. A large crowd had tracked Jesus down, gathering to hear Him teach. His popularity was at an all time high; word had spread about His miraculous healings and so as He sits with his disciples this large crowd has gathered. After a full day teaching Jesus knows people are hungry. He soon turns to His disciples and asks them ‘how are we going to feed these people”? One disciple, Phillip, tells Jesus that even if they had eight months wages they couldn't feed everybody. Jesus knew what He was going to do and He is just testing his disciples to see what kind of faith they had. Jesus multiplies the bread and fish, provided by the young boy’s lunch, and the people eat their fill.
After dinner the crowd decides to camp out for the night so they can be with Jesus the next day. These are some huge fans of Jesus. The next morning when the crowd wakes up and they're hungry, they look around for Jesus—otherwise known as their meal ticket—but He is nowhere to be found. These fans were hoping for an encore performance...a breakfast burrito or maybe a fish taco. When they realize that Jesus and his disciples were gone, they begin to search for Him, eventually finding Him across the lake. By this time they are starving, they missed their chance to order breakfast and they are ready for lunch. But Jesus has decided to shut down the all-you-can-eat buffet.
The verses 25-26 says...
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. John 6:25-26
Jesus knows that these people are not going to all the trouble to follow after Him because of His teachings, No, they are following after Him because they want some more free food. Was it Jesus they wanted or where they only looking for what He might do for them?
In verse 35 Jesus offers the crowd Himself, the question is, would that be enough? “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.” (6:35-36)
Jesus says, ‘I am the bread of life.” Suddenly Jesus is the only thing on the menu. The crowd has to decide if it will be satisfied with Him or if they are still hungry only for the things He can give them. Unfortunately here's what we read toward the end of chapter (v.66)... “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed.”
Most of the fans turned away and went home. What's interesting to me is that Jesus doesn't seem to chase after them. He doesn't try to soften His message; He doesn't try to make Himself more appealing. In fact, He doesn't even try, in anyway, to make them stay. He doesn't convince His few remaining followers to go after them to try to talk him into coming back. He doesn't have an ice cream social, He doesn't in anyway try to make himself look better or different or easier. In fact He almost seems okay with the fact that they left.
What's obvious from this passage is that Jesus wasn't interested in the size of the crowd, He was interested in the level of their commitment, He was interested in the quality of relationship.
Illustration - In his book “Not a Fan”, Kyle Idelman shares a story about his daughter that I can totally relate to. Imagine if my daughter, who is about to turn 24, would like to marry someday, so I decided to help her out. I decide I'm going to make this happen so, imagine I take out an ad in the newspaper, I put up a billboard sign, and make up T-shirts begging someone to choose her. What if I even offer some attractive gifts as incentives? Doesn't that cheapen who she is? Wouldn't that make it seem that who ever came to her would be doing her a favor? I have set a very high standard for who I think deserves her (just wishing she would pay attention to it). I want background checks and lie detector test. There should be a lengthy application that must be filled out in triplicate. References will be checked and hidden cameras installed to track his every moment. Why... because if you want to have a relationship with my daughter you better be prepared to give her the best of everything you are and everything you have.
If you never got another thing from Jesus, would He still be worth having a relationship? Not another blessing came your way in this life...would He still be worth it? Now, that’s not going to happen, but we have to be honest about why we are in a relationship with Christ.
So, let me repeat the Question: Are you more interested in Jesus for what He can do for you or for who He is? Are you more like those who were only interested in the meal that He provided, or are you more like the disciples who hung around even after everybody else left? Do you find yourself looking to Jesus when you need something or do you find yourself looking for Him because of who He is?
That leads us to the other side of the question...
Question: Are you more interested in Jesus for what He can do for you or what you can do for Him?
I think one of the difficult parts of and relationship with Christ is that can actually sit down face to face and have a cup coffee and talk about our day. It is a relationship based on faith. Certainly we can pray, we can read the Word and at times feel his presence, but it's not the same as a face to face relationship. So how do you develop a relationship with someone you can not see?
1. Time
Certainly, the best way for us to grow in our relationship with Christ is through time. It is about earning to set aside time to be with God, reading His Word and praying; learning how to be quiet so that God can speak to you. We are too busy and have far too many distractions in our life.
We all know this is something we should do, but how many of us actually set aside time for it? I know for myself, I seem to be able to make time for a three-hour football game, but I cannot remember the last time I set aside three hours to be with God; it’s about our priorities. Even watching a game I’m distracted. I’ll be surfing the net, texting or talking on the phone, reading a book or magazine. I can hardly shut my brain down enough to get to sleep at a decent hour—we are high strung people who need to learn how to chill.
If my wife and I don’t spend sometime talking with each other, we feel disconnected. If she doesn’t ask me anything about my day, I don’t think she cares. If I don’t listen to her stories, she doesn’t think I care. There is a disconnect in the relationship. It is no different with our relationship with Christ...if there is no communication, there is no connection. We all need a healthy quiet time.
2. Serving Others
This may seem like it’s a bit odd but I believe it is absolutely necessary.
How many of you have had a friend or family member that was a ‘taker’? Do you know what I mean by that? A ‘taker’ is someone who is always taking. They never ask you questions about your life. They don’t seem to call unless they need something. When you have a problem they seem to be able to turn it back on themselves. Taker relationships are draining, and not very fulfilling.
Well if we are always looking to God for the next thing He is going to do for us...guess what...we are a taker. So how do we avoid being a ‘taker’? Serve others!
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:34-40
When we serve others, we serve Jesus. When we make time for ‘the least of these’, we are making time for Jesus. When we offer a cup of cool water, we offer it to Jesus. When we provide clothing for those in need, care for the sick, visit the prisoner, we do this for Jesus. That’s how we avoid being a taker.
This is why, as a church, we try to provide you with opportunities to serve others: Advent project, Operation Christmas Child, Caring for Kids-Ready to Learn Fair, Adams St. Family Center Easter Picnic. These are all opportunities to serve others...the least of these.
We also provide you with opportunities to serve your church community (we will talk more about this in two weeks). This morning, most of our ministries have tables out in the foyer where you can ask some questions and sign-up to volunteer in ministry. There are dozens of different ways you can get involved, based on your passions and time availability. Stop by this morning and see what is available.
But understand that this goes far beyond formal and organized commitments to serve God. I believe we make the biggest strides in our relationship with God when we make ourselves available to serve others in our neighborhood, at work, with our family and friends. It’s when we develop that servant heart that says...It’s not about me. That is when our intimacy level with God will take the greatest strides, when we are living for the sake of others; when we are choosing to serve the least of these.
If you were to judge where you stand today in your relationship to Christ, what would you point to? How would you evaluate your quiet time? Do you feel connected to Christ? Is it natural and easy for you to enter into worship? DO you find pleasure in reading the Word and praying?
How are you serving others? Is serving an occasional thing or is it who you are becoming? Do the ‘least of these’ matter to you when it is brought to your attention or are you spiritually sensitive to the needs all around you?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you are as close to God today as you want to be.
In His message to the church at Laodicea—not to unbelievers but to the church—Jesus said... Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20
