LIVING BEYOND OURSELVES
TEXT MATT. 25: 35-40
INTRODUCTION: THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE IS TO BE A LIFE OF SERVICE, WORSHIP, AND PRAISE. WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE HUMANITY, THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN WE ARE, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CAST DOWN, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ORPHANED BY SOCIETY, WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND EVEN PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. GOD HAS NOT CALLED US TO LIVE UNTO OURSELVES, BUT TO REACHOUT TO THOSE WHO’S EYES ARE BLINDED BY THE ROSE COLORED GLASSES OF THE WORLD, LEADING THEM OUT OF DARKNESS AND INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT. YES MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, GOD EXPECTS US TO LIVE UNTO HIM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME RENDERING SERVICE TO THE DISFRANCHISED. GOD DID NOT CALL US TO FOCUS ON OURSELVES, BUT HE HAS CALLED US TO DO UNTO OTHERS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE UNTO OURSELVES. IF WE WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE BLESSINGS OF GOD, WE MUST BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS. THEREFORE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE LEARN HOW TO LIVE BEYOND OURSELVES.
I.TEXT
THIS DISCOURSE TAKES PLACE ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. JESUS IN HIS MASTERFUL WAY, REVEALS THROUGH THE USE OF PARABLES, THE RICHNESS OF OBEDIENCE. HE SHARES WITH HIS DISCIPLES THAT THOSE WHO ARE OBEDIENT TO HIS WORD WILL ENTER INTO ETERNAL JOY, WHICH IS HEAVEN, WHILE THOSE WHO REJECT HIM WILL BE TORMENTED IN HELL.
MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO JUST BE HEARERS OF THE WORD, WE MUST BECOME DOERS ALSO.
THESE PASSAGES ILLUSTRATE OUR ROLE TO HUMANITY. WHENEVER A PERSON COMES TO CHRIST, HE/SHE AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES A MISSIONARY, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU BECOME A SERVANT. ALLOW ME TO MOCK TIME MOMENTARILY AND ASK; ARE YOU A MISSIONARY BY GOD’S STANDARD OR IN NAME ONLY? THESE PASSAGES BEAR WITNESS THAT WE MUST LIVE BEYOND OURSELVES.
WHEN WE RENDER GODLY SERVICES TO OTHERS, THE TEXTS TEACHES THAT WE ARE DOING SERVICE TO THE LORD. BUT I WONDER TODAY, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT WE TRIED TO HELP SOMEBODY? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN SOMEONE IN NEED AND WE PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE? JESUS TEACHES IN LUKE 10: 30-37, THAT A CERTAIN MAN WENT DOWN FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO, AND FELL AMONG THIEVES, WHICH STRIPPED HIM OF HIS CLOTHES AND WOUNDED HIM, AND DEPARTED, LEAVING HIM FOR DEAD. A PRIEST AND A LEVITE SAW HIM AND PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. BUT A SAMARITAN SAW HIM PICKED HIM UP, AND CARED FOR HIM. THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE BEYOND OURSELVES, WHEN WE PUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS BEFORE OURSELVES.
II. CHRISTIAN SERVICE
IF WE ENDEAVOR TO RECIEVE THE BLESSINGS OF GOD, WE MUST FOLLOW HIS AGENDA AND NOT OUR OWN. THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY CHURCHES THAT ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH MONEY THAN THEY ARE WITH MISSIONS. BUT I HASTEN TO TELL YOU THAT MONEY MAY BUY HAPPINESS, BUT IT CAN’T BUY JOY; IT CAN BUY A HOUSE BUT IT CAN’T BUY A HOME; IT CAN BUY A BED BUT IT CAN’T BUY A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP; AND IT CERTAINLY CAN’T BUY SALVATION.
IF WE ARE NOT SERVING OUR FELLOW MAN, WE ARE NOT SERVING GOD. THERE IS MORE TO BEING A CHRISTIAN THAN JUST COMING TO CHURCH. ALL OF US ARE CALLED TO A MISSION MINISTRY THAT IS PREGNANT WITH POSSIBILITIES. AND IF YOUR MISSION IS NOT TO OTHERS, YOU HAVE A MISGUIDED MINISTRY.
I WONDER TODAY, IF WE HAVE REALLY COUNTED THE COST OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN. AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST WE ARE CALLED TO DO SEVERAL THINGS. FIRST, WE ARE CALLED TO DENY OURSELVES. JESUS SAYS IN MATT. 16:24, “IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.” BUT I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT WE ARE NOT WILLING TO FULLY DENY OURSELVES FOR THE KINGDOM’S CAUSE. (REFER TO THE TEXT). SECOND, WE MUST ENDEAVOR TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, BY BEARING THEIR INFIRMITIES. ROMANS 15:1, TEACHES THAT “WE THEN THAT ARE STRONG OUGHT TO BEAR THE INFIRMITIES OF THE WEAK, AND NOT PLEASE OURSELVES.” WE MUST COME DOWN FROM OUR HOLINESS, AND ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND DO THE WORK THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO. THIRD, WHATEVER WE DO MUST BE DONE IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND FAITH. WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD. AND IF WE HAVE NOT LOVE, 1 COR. 13:1 TEACHES THAT WE ARE BECOME AS SOUNDING BRASS AND A TINKLING CYMBAL.
III. CONCLUSION
SO MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, GOD IS CALLING US TO LIVE BEYOND OURSELVES. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO LEAN ON YOU, BY ALL MEANS LET THEM LEAN. SOMEBODY NEEDS A HELPING HAND, MAKE YOUR HANDS AVAILABLE. YOUR TESTIMONY OUGHT TO BE IF I CAN JUST HELP SOMEBODY ALONG THE WAY, THEN MY LIVING WILL NOT BE IN VAIN. IF I CAN JUST HELP SOMEBODY SEE JESUS JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER. IF I CAN HELP GIVE SIGHT WHERE THERE IS NO SIGHT, STRENGTH WHERE THERE IS NO STRENGTH, HOPE WHERE THERE IS NO HOPE, COMFORT WHERE THERE IS NO COMFORT.
WHEN WE DO WHAT THE LORD SAYS DO, WE WILL HEAR THE LORD SAY WELL DONE THY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
