"Breaking Out of a Rut"
Mark 10:46-52
Mark 10:46-52 46) And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47) And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48) And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49) And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50) And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51) And Jesus answered and said unto him, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52) And Jesus said unto him, go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Have you ever been stuck in a rut?
I grew up on a farm where ruts were a regular part of life. When it rained all the dirt roads turned to mud. The first person to go down one of those roads created ruts to wherever they were going. If you happen to turn onto the road with ruts, you went where the ruts went. Many times as a young boy I found myself stuck in the ruts going somewhere that I didn’t want to go. Many times the only way to get out of the ruts was for someone to come and pull me out. If you had to drive down the road with ruts you had to make sure that you never let your wheels slip into the ruts.
There are times in all of our lives that we get into the ruts. When we say someone is "in a rut" or that they are "stuck in a rut," we mean that the person is locked into a behavior that, like that road, they’re stuck in the ruts aren’t easily escaped.
A rut can be certain pattern of behavior that we are locked into that we don’t like. Some ruts are bad because they keep us locked into a lifestyle that is destructive. Some ruts keep us from making progress in our lives. They keep us from growing and becoming all that God wants us to be. There are some ruts that we all need to avoid. The rut of a prayer-less life, the rut of missing church, the rut of not reading God’s Word and the rut of not paying tithes:
Some ruts are good, habitual behavior that captivates us and helps us grow and develop.
But more often than not, when we say we’re stuck in a rut, we mean that we’re having difficulty escaping a wrong behavior.
Someone has said that "A rut is nothing but a grave with the ends kicked out."
Probably all of us get the wheels of our lives stuck in ruts from time to time, so I think that it is a valid question for me to ask. "How does one go about breaking out of a rut?"
Bartimaeus was a blind beggar who lived in the ancient city of Jericho. It would be safe to say that he was stuck in the ruts. Blind Bartimaeus made his living by begging. But Bartimaeus was tired of living in the ruts and he was going to break out of the ruts that keep him from becoming all that he could be.
Let me take a moment to sketch out for you the kind of rut this man was in.
1. HE WAS BLIND.
A blind man couldn’t work. He couldn’t read or write. There was no brail writing. He couldn’t even get around. I know there were no "seeing eye dogs" in that day because dogs were unclean animals to the Jews.
2. HE WAS REDUCED TO BEGGING.
A man in his condition, unless he had relatives to support him, could do little else but sit near a popular road and cry, "Alms, alms for the poor!"
3I. HE WAS AN OBJECT OF PITY
I say that because that was what was behind making a living for him. It was only by soliciting the sympathy of others that he could survive. He probably got pretty good at what he did. Finally, for the most part, his life was reduced to those last four words of verse 46: "sitting by the road." THAT WAS HIS RUT---HE WAS BLIND-BEGGING-PITTIED--SITTING BY THE ROAD
.
But Bartimaeus got out! The purpose of this message is to show you how he did it and how you and I can get out of our rut as well.
There are at least seven things Bartimaeus did that day when Jesus passed by his begging position that helped get him out of his rut. (Yes, I know it could be said that it was Jesus who made him well – something he could not do for himself.) Nonetheless, had Bartimaeus not done these seven things and gotten out of his very deep rut, he would never have been healed. The actions Bartimaeus took that day suggest seven things you and I can do when we find ourselves in a rut. Let’s look at seven principles that will help us get out of the ruts.
The first principle is this:
I. ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LIFE!
Verse 47 says, "And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy
on me!"
Notice here that Bartimaeus took the initiative himself to cry out. That is a very important observation, perhaps the most important of all seven.
Do you remember the days of your childhood when, if you were uncomfortable, or afraid, or hurting, you would cry out and Mom, Dad, or some other relative would come to your rescue? They would say, "don’t be afraid, I’ll take care of you."
Then came the time you left your home, an action that was perhaps, at first, a little scary. Could you make it on your own? Would you have to go back to Mom and Dad in humiliation?
You probably did a lot of growing up in those first couple of years on your own. Perhaps the best definition there is to describe someone who is "grown up" is someone who has assumed responsibility for his or her own life.
ONE REASON A RUT IS SO HARD TO BREAK OUT OF IS THAT IT IS SECURE--SAFE--IT'S COMNFORTABLE!!
Like those easy days when you could count on Mom and Dad. From the bottom of our ruts we ask, "why should we give up what is comfortable in exchange for something untried?
Someone is handicapped as Bartimaeus could certainly be subject to such reasoning. He probably wouldn’t have to look far to find those who would support him in his thinking. No, he didn’t particularly enjoy sitting there beside the road, but at least it was comfortable. It’s what he knew. It’s what he did well. Being dependent upon others wasn’t the most rewarding lifestyle, but at least he knew what he would be doing tomorrow and the next day. Yet he dreamed of more. He dreamed of being able to see.
That day when Jesus passed by, Bartimeaus was suddenly faced with the biggest decision of his life. Would he continue to be dependent upon others where he felt safe, or would he assume responsibility for himself and risk stepping out of his rut? For every "Bartimaeus" in this world who risks stepping out his a rut, there are probably a thousand who shrink back, unwilling to take the risk.
Think for a moment about whatever rut you may be in. Yes, you can continue to blame your parents or the society or your nationality or your rotten luck in life or your lack of self discipline or the "fat" genes you inherited from your parents or the weather or whatever. You’re certainly free to do so. But there is a price for that dubious "freedom." You’ll be a rut dweller the rest of your life. You might as well quit dreaming. Leave off hoping. Quit thinking about the day when your ship will come in or someone will reach down and pull you out. Getting out of ruts is only for those who leave off excuses making and assume responsibility for themselves!
II. BELIEVE YOU CAN CHANGE!!
For Bartimaeus, it took some real faith that day to cast aside his cloak, jump up, and move in the direction of the sound of the crowd surrounding Jesus. Verse 52 says "Go your way; your faith has made you well."
Where does faith come from, anyway? Are we talking about a kind of hopeful "leap in the dark" when we talk of believing you can change? I don’t think so.
Faith must be based upon some evidence, otherwise it is nothing more than gullibility. Notice that phrase in verse 47, "And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out.."
That implies some recognitions – some prior knowledge. Bartimaeus had probably heard how Jesus had healed others.
How does that apply to you and me? The Bible says, in Romans 10:17, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ." Hearing such stories produces faith! And that is one of the great uses for the Bible. It is full of stories of people who, with God’s help, overcame tremendous odds and escaped deep ruts of existence. Besides that, there are many reassuring principles to cheer us on. Not only that, there are contemporary stories that can be told as well. That is one reason we gather to look into God’s Word and encourage one another Sunday after Sunday.
You don’t get that outside these walls very often. Out there, most people don’t believe you can change. They’re busy perfecting the art of blaming others and explaining why change is impossible. They’ve made so many excuses for themselves and others that anything beyond mediocrity now sounds impossible.
There is sufficient evidence both in the Bible and in experience to assure you that you can break out of your rut. But you must avail yourself to it by believing you can change.
III. CLARIFY WHAT YOU REALLY NEED!
Notice in verse 51 what Jesus asked Bartimaeus: What do you want Me to do for you?"
Why did Jesus ask that? Couldn’t he read the man’s mind? Didn’t He already know? You see, the question wasn’t asked for Jesus’ benefit. It was asked for Bartimaeus and those who watched on.
We seldom do anything about the ruts we live in until circumstances force us into our awareness. Even then, we seldom move until we finally get to the place where we set a goal.
A life with no goals is a life of a rut dweller. If you have no goals, quit dreaming. Leave off hope. Your chance of hitting something you don’t aim at is virtually nil. Certainly if you hope to break out of a rut, you have to be willing to clarify what it is you really need and want!
"What do you want Me to do for you?" Jesus asked. Bartimaeus didn’t hesitate: "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!"
IV.STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL SAY!!
Verse 48 says, "And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Something that keeps many of us in our ruts is the fear of disapproval or rejection from others.
Bartimaeus didn’t have to imaging what others would say if he stepped forward that day. They told him, "An many were sternly telling him to be quiet." "Shut up, Bartimaeus! The Rabbi isn’t interested in people like you! Besides, what could he do for you? People like you are better off quiet."
Did he listen? NO!
Then look what happened. Verse 49 says, "And Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take courage, arise! He is calling for you."
You see, he had to get beyond what other people said.
What you and I have to realize is that the vast majority of people making up the human race are naysayers.
You see, since most people who attempt to climb out of a rut end up climbing back in, people around get to believing that is the norm. That is what to expect. Most of them aren’t willing to risk encouraging someone who won’t be daunted by those odds. Why, they might get laughed at for making rash predictions! So they take the safe route. They conclude you won’t make it. They opt for what they figure will be the winning side. And they discourage you.
That’s why the Bible warns us about the company we keep. If we hang around and listen to fearful or negative people, we’ll become fearful or negative. I find it interesting that in certain key battles in the Old Testament, God sent those who were fearful home, even though it lessened the number of troops.
We must stop worrying about what other people will say? What they say so often has no basis in concern for you. They’re only saying what they figure is the safest thing to say.
Now I’m not saying we should never get good counsel from godly people. But if you listen to the crowd, you’ll stay in your rut! Guaranteed! Stop worrying about what other people will say!
V. STOP WAITING FOR IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES!!
The situation on the day Bartimaeus was healed was far from ideal. Verse 46 says that Jesus was going out from Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude. What chance did anyone have of getting Jesus’ attention in such a crowd? Hardly any. So what chance did a blind man have?
Perhaps, Bartimaeus should have waited for a better time. Maybe tomorrow or the next day or next week or next year circumstances will be better.
That’s classic rut dweller language, isn’t it?
Waiting for ideal circumstances will leave you in a rut – a rut that could ultimately become a grave. Stop waiting for ideal circumstances.
VI. TAKE A BOLD STEP OF FAITH
Verse 50 says, "And casting aside his cloak, he jumped up, and came to Jesus."
Hey, we’re talking about risk here aren’t we? It’s scary! Probably some of you have already dismissed me and decided to keep to the security of your rut. That’s certainly you’re choice. But at least be honest about it. Quit blaming others.
Bartimaeus put it all out front for everyone to see.
What a big, bold, open, public stand to take! Listen, he wanted out of his rut!
A young man once sought out an older, successful executive for advice. He found him at his beachfront home. After introducing himself, he asked if the older man would counsel him on the ins and outs of business success. At that request, the older man asked the younger to accompany him down to the beach. As they were walking along, suddenly the older man grabbed the younger and drug him out into the surf. In one swift movement, he thrust the man’s head under the water and held him down. In panic, the younger man fought the older man’s grasp. Finally, when he was about to black out, the older man loosened his grip and let him up. After regaining his breath, the younger man asked what on earth was going on. "When you want success as badly as you wanted that air, you’ll become successful."
That’s really the issue, isn’t it? Sometimes, though we think we want out of our ruts, we really don’t – at least we don’t want too badly enough.
Are you willing to do something bold? Are you willing to take a stand in front of others?
"I don’t think something that drastic is necessary," you say. Maybe not, but have your less drastic measures worked for you? Maybe it’s time to get bold! Do something bold and dramatic.
Finally, if you want to break out of a rut –
VII. MAKE YOUR MOVE NOW!!Make Your Move NOW
Most people never get out of the rut because they never make a move. They always find an excuse not to make a move even though they know that a move is the best thing for them.
Bartimaeus had no idea Jesus was coming to his town that day. This day was just like every other to him as he climbed off his sleeping pallet and felt his way down to his familiar spot beside the road. He didn’t have time to prepare. It was suddenly just there.
I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t take time to plan. But do something now or this occasion will become just like all the others where you didn’t break out of your rut. Make your move now!
CONCLUSION:
I hope you’ll consider using these seven principles on that deep rut you have found yourself in. Let me say one more thing and then I’ll be through. Perhaps the most dangerous rut a person can be in is one that leads away from God. With that in mind, let me close with this haunting poem.
The Bible says, "Today is the day of salvation." If you are in a rut that is leading you away from God, today is the day to get out! Do it now
