“JUST ENOUGH LOVE” Mark 12:28-34
intro:
The story is told of a wealthy man who lost his wife when their only child was young. A housekeeper was hired to take care of the boy, who lived only into his teens. Heartbroken from this second loss, the father died a short time later. No will could be found; and since there were no relatives, it looked as if the state would get his fortune. The man's personal belongings, including his mansion, were put up for sale. The old housekeeper had very little money, but there was one thing she wanted. It was a picture that had hung on a wall in the house—a photo of the boy she had loved and nurtured. When the items were sold, nobody else wanted the picture, so she bought it for just a few pennies. Taking it home, she began to clean it and polish the glass. As she took it apart, a paper fell out. It was the man's will, and in it he stated that all his wealth should go to the one who loved his son enough to buy that picture.
Scrip:
Mark 12:28-34 (NKJV)
28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"
29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
32 So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.
33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But after that no one dared question Him.
I. TRUTH ABOUT HUMANITY
A. There is truth about all of humanity = “Just enough mentality”
1. We will fall into the trap of just enough where is will become our lifestyle
a. “school, jobs, marriages, at the gym!!
b. Actually it was at the gym that I said “I’m just doing enough!” / filling rings
2. We as christians will slowly if were not careful to begin to have a mediocre relationship with God
a. We will pray, read our bible, witness, come to church “Just enough”
B. I believe this stems out of the feeling we get when something were doing is finished / completed
1. Even God in scripture looked at His creation and said “It is good.”
a. We know we have to do certain things and we don’t want to!
b. Our heart is an indicator for these types of things!!!
- If we hate it we will do “Just enough” = “Thank God that is over!”
- If we like it we will “OVERDUE IT” = “It’s over already???”
(DRAMATIZE) - “I will build myself greater barns”
2. Here is the antithesis to what I am saying “We will do just enough with:”
a. Our time, things were not passionate about!
b. IN FACT we will try to open the least amount of energy or resources on those things!
C. The religious scribes and Pharisees had become professional at “Just enough”
1. Jesus mentioned the “Perfect tithing Pharisee”
Luke 18:11-12 (NKJV)
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
- Measure their seeds actually tithe on it! Leviticus 27:30 (NKJV) 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S. It is holy to the LORD.
a. However he did just enough to try and please God BUT: was missing the truth of OUR TEXT:
2. Jesus was answering the question of the scribe but it challenged my heart!
Mark 12:30 (NKJV)
30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
a. Here is the Amplified Bible
Mark 12:30 (AMP)
30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.
b.
II. OUR INTERNAL MAKEUP
A. Our human hearts were designed to only love above all others = ONE GOD
1. We know that if God is asking us to do it we can: HOW?
a. We see in scripture the different instances where people moved past “Just enough Love”
(DRAMATIZE) = Widow with 2 mites …
b. The widow defy’s all the excuses people use… Nothing said about her abilities, she had little strength
c. This Widow went past what was the norm: “Everyone else gave of their substance”
d. HER MITE WAS AN INDICATION OF HER HEART
2. We also see in scripture (DRAMATIZE) = Daniel
a. When the law was passed that he couldn’t pray he went up to his room opened window prayed!!!
b. That is an indication that says “I LOVE GOD!”
c. If we backtrack just a little bit Daniel refused the kings meat / A PICTURE against carnality!
B. Our hearts can never fully love God while we cultivate selfishness…. 2 HINDRANCES
1. Carnality - Loving the world and our pleasure we get from it!
a. (DRAMATIZE) Prodigal son “Spent it all on riotous living”
b. We cant love God chasing Suzy Q - Flavio
P. Stephens: “You can’t fill yourself with worldly entertainment and love Jesus.”
c. OUR HEARTS were not designed to love or serve two Gods… “Cannot serve God and mammon”
2. Laziness - is the epitome of selfishness… You are saying I love myself more than anything or anybody
a. Whenever Jesus is passing Judgement of his servants he says “Wicked and lazy / slothful servant”
b. Parable of the talents “I went and buried my talent… Not worth my time / energy to invest”
- Part of the loving God with ALL entails with ALL our strength also!
c. Physical laziness will spill over to the spiritual every-time!
C. Jesus always challenged the “Just enough mentality”
1. One example was in forgiveness:
a. Jesus says if a soldier makes you carry his
2.
a.
III. ALL OUR HEART
