Views On Life

VIEWS ON LIFE/ADAPTED FROM AN OUTLINE BY BRO. RON BLANKENSHIP

Introduction: There is one daunting question asked by men and woman, boys and girls alike. It is a question that has been asked throughout time and continues to be asked. What is my purpose in life. What is the meaning of all there is in the world. That can be a mind boggling question at times. I want you to know that it hasn’t changed over the years.

Listen to this story out of Luke

Luke 10:25-37

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Now I want to look at this passage of scripture and say this, there are three different views and meanings in life, wrapped up in this parable that Jesus told this lawyer. You see, it is not any different today than it was when Jesus was alive. A lawyer trying to confuse and trick people into looking at something different than it really is. That’s what I’d like to do today, let’s see it how it really is.

I. What’s yours is mine so I’ll take it/ The first basic meaning of life was greed/ If I want I’ll just take it

A. Stealing was the way these made a living

1. These men got up each day of their lives ready to prey on someone that was vulnerable.

a. There was not one ounce of remorse in what they did or who they effected.

*It was there endeavor to get what ever they could by what ever means they had to.

b. There actions were never an issue beyond there own selves.

*It didn’t matter what had to be done for this man to earn what he had he just took it.

2. You don’t have to be violent to be a thief who violates and steals from other people.

a. What we don’t understand that stealing is more than just taking money.

*when we steal we rob people of many things.

*There are so many other things we have to look at

b. These men robbed this man of many things.

*His dignity

*His money

*His health (work, family, friends)

*His trust

c. You don’t have to beat someone up to be a thief.

*You can hurt someone without lifting a finger (inmate that stole all the retirement money, Enron)

3. In this country today there are many ways for you and I to steal and we don’t even think about it.

a. taxes

b. work (pencils, time, pens)

c. Kids (if your in school and your not good your stealing someone elses opportunity to learn.

d. Kids (Your stealing someone else’s opportunity to worship)

c. Abortion (stealing life) (this is murder too)

“Taking a possession that is not yours. Taking credit for what someone else has done. False accusations to harm someone’s reputation. Cutting someone down to build self up.”

*My friend Paul Fries told me “never preach on abortion without preaching on the love of Jesus”