"do You Love Me More Than These?"

John chapter 21 beginning in verse one is where I want to focus today. On the heels of Valentine's Day, I believe it is important to reflect on the one question that the Lord would ask all of us today. "Do you love Me?" Now, at first, we are quick to respond, "YES, LORD! I DO LOVE YOU!" A most natural reaction to such a question. But what about the rest of the question? "Do you love Me more than these?" These what? Well, in our text today, we see Jesus is referring to something specific when He asks Peter that question. The fish they just caught and ate for breakfast. But, is that what Jesus was really referring to? Not when you explore and dissect the passage of scripture laid out before us. Obviously, Jesus is talking about the fish, but more than that, He is talking about the pleasures and necessities in life. Food, water, clothing, money, security, shelter. All of those things are things we need, but what about the pleasures of this life? Pay raises, promotions, cars, houses, computers, cell phones? What about this? What about recognition? Acknowledgement? Acceptance? Praise from other men? Favor? 

What about things in this life that we deem necessary, but in reality, they are superficial? We all want to be recognized by our employer on the job. We all want that pat on the back from a co-worker or a supervisor or manager telling us, "Well done!" "Good job!" We all anticipate such recognition when we do a good job at work. Our kids long for such recognition when they get good grades in school. But are they so necessary that we have made them a need instead of a bonus, which is what they truly are? We all long for a raise in pay on the job so we can better provide for our families. But is that the true mentality we have when we long for them? Or do we long for them so we can buy that fancy fishing pole we've seen in the store window? Do we long for a raise so we can take that tropical vacation we've been dreaming about? Do we long for a raise so we can buy that fancy sports car we've always had our eye on? Or do we truly long for a raise so we can handle our bills and expenses better than we are now?

Most people I encounter every day long for more money and it is their opinion that the only way to get the money they want is to play the lottery. They spend outrageous amounts of money just to improve their chances of hitting the jackpot. I saw one man, an elderly man, spend over $300 on lottery scratch off tickets and won nothing! Paid cash! All large bills! And hit nothing. Imagine what that money could have been used for instead? It could have gone towards groceries, gas, bills. And if all those things were met and paid, then the money could've gone towards savings. But lottery tickets? Tickets that proved to be worthless? That was a waste! And that poor man, deluded by greed and living the lifestyles of the rich and famous, lost that money. Blew it all on gambling. Prodigal living is what the scriptures would call that. And yet so many people are of the same persuasion. They buy and buy and buy lottery ticket after lottery ticket after lottery ticket. HOPING for that big, big winner. Only to have their hopes DASHED by reality. The reality of gambling. The reality that the odds are way too high against you to win! And sadly, people either don't see that or they don't care. They're too desperate for a better life than what they have now! Even millionaires and billionaires are playing these lottery games hoping for that big win! The LOVE of money is the root of ALL evil! And gambling IS evil! So, my question to you is the same as in our text today, "Do you love Jesus MORE than these?" 

John 21:1-17,

1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way, He showed Himself:

2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”

6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So, they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.