LK 18:18-30; JN 10:34-39 BV 11/14/99

TODAY'S MESSAGE DEALS WITH THE PRIORITIES WE BY WHICH WE LIVE OUR LIVES. AND THERE IS A WONDERFUL FABLE ABOUT PRIORITIES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TELL AS A WAY OF HELPING US TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE THINGS WE BELIEVE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT IN OUR LIVES.

IT CONCERNS A WOMAN WHO CAME OUT OF HER HOUSE AND SAW THREE OLD MEN WITH LONG WHITE BEARDS SITTING IN HER FRONT YARD. SHE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THEM, BUT SHE FELT SOMEHOW DRAWN TO THEM. SHE WENT TO THEM AND SAID, "I DON'T THINK I KNOW YOU, BUT YOU MUST BE HUNGRY...PLEASE COME IN AND HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT."

"IS YOUR HUSBAND HOME?" THEY ASKED.

"NO," SHE SAID. "HE'S OUT."

"THEN WE CANNOT COME IN," THEY REPLIED.

THAT EVENING WHEN HER HUSBAND CAME HOME, SHE TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HE SAID, "GO TELL THEM I AM HOME AND INVITE THEM IN." WHICH IS WHAT SHE DID.

"WE DON'T GO INTO A HOUSE TOGETHER," THEY REPLIED.

"WHY IS THAT?" SHE ASKED.

ONE OF THE OLD MEN EXPLAINED: "HIS NAME IS WEALTH," HE SAID POINTING TO ONE OF HIS FRIENDS. THEN POINTING TO ANOTHER ONE, "HE IS SUCCESS, AND I AM LOVE." HE ADDED, "NOW GO IN AND TALK WITH YOUR HUSBAND ABOUT WHICH ONE OF US YOU WANT IN YOUR HOME."

THE WOMAN WENT IN AND TOLD HER HUSBAND WHAT WAS SAID...HER HUSBAND WAS OVERJOYED..."HOW NICE!" HE SAID. "SINCE THAT IS THE CASE, LET'S INVITE WEALTH...LET HIM COME AND FILL OUR HOME WITH WEALTH."

HIS WIFE DISAGREED. "MY DEAR, WHY DON'T WE INVITE SUCCESS?"
THEIR DAUGHTER WAS LISTENING FROM THE OTHER CORNER OF THE HOUSE. SHE JUMPED IN WITH HER OWN SUGGESTION: "WOULD IT NOT BE BETTER TO INVITE LOVE? OUR HOME WILL BE FILLED WITH LOVE."

"WHAT A WONDERFUL IDEA," SAID THE HUSBAND. "GO OUT AND INVITE LOVE TO BE OUR GUEST."

THE WOMAN WENT OUT AND ASKED THE THREE OLD MEN, "WHICH ONE OF YOU IS LOVE? PLEASE COME IN AND BE OUR GUEST."

LOVE GOT UP AND STARTED WALKING TOWARD THE HOUSE. THE OTHER TWO ALSO GOT UP AND FOLLOWED HIM.

SURPRISED, THE LADY ASKED WEALTH AND SUCCESS: "I ONLY INVITED LOVE, WHY ARE YOU COMING IN?"

THE OLD MEN REPLIED TOGETHER: "IF YOU HAD INVITED WEALTH OR SUCCESS, THE OTHER TWO OF US WOULD HAVE STAYED OUT. BUT SINCE YOU INVITED LOVE, WHEREVER HE GOES WE GO WITH HIM. WHEREVER THERE IS LOVE, THERE IS ALSO WEALTH AND SUCCESS!" (PSF)

THE ISSUE OF OUR PRIORITIES IN LIFE IS ADDRESSED OVER AND OVER IN SCRIPTURE AND MANY TIMES THE TOPIC IS CENTERED AROUND WEALTH AND GENEROSITY. IN FACT IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE ALONE, THESE TOPICS ARE ADDRESSED SOME EIGHTEEN TIMES. OBVIOUSLY THE HANDLING OF MATERIAL GOODS IS A MAJOR LIFE AND SPIRITUAL ISSUE.

AS OUR STORY ABOUT THE RICH RULER BEGINS, HE ASKS JESUS WHAT HE MUST DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE. HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW HE CAN BE SURE HE WILL BE SAVED WHEN GOD PASSES OUT THE GIFT OF LIFE. IN AN EFFORT TO FLATTER JESUS HE ADDRESSES AS "GOOD TEACHER," BUT JESUS PUTS HIM ON NOTICE THAT FLATTERY WILL NOT WIN HIM OVER AND WARNS HIM THAT ONLY GOD IS GOOD.

THE ISSUE OF GOODNESS RAISES THE QUESTION OF HONORING GOD, HOWEVER, AND JESUS REPLIES IN TERMS OF SOME OF GOD'S COMMANDMENTS - THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER...THE ONES PROHIBITING ADULTERY, MURDER, STEALING, LYING, AND URGING US TO HONOR OUR PARENTS.

WHAT IS INTERESTING HERE IS THAT JESUS DOES NOT MENTION ANY OF THE COMMANDMENTS THAT DEAL WITH LOVING AND SERVING GOD. AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT HE KNOWS THE HEART OF THE MAN SPEAKING TO HIM. HE ALSO KNOWS THAT LOVING GOD FIRST IN OUR HEART MEANS NOT BEING DRAWN AWAY INTO VARIOUS EXPRESSIONS OF IDOLATRY THAT THE WORLD HOLDS OUT TO US. YOU SEE, ONE OF THE DANGERS OF HAVING A LOT OF MONEY IS THAT POSSESSIONS BEGIN TO COME FIRST AND PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS BEGIN TO TAKE A BACK SEAT ON OUR LIST OF PRIORITIES. JESUS EMPHASIZES THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE SELF-SERVING AND NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTHERS.

THE RULER SAYS THAT HE HAS OBEYED ALL OF THE COMMANDMENTS JESUS MENTIONS. HE OBVIOUSLY HAS NOTHING TO FEAR IF THAT IS ALL THAT IS REQUIRED OF HIM. BUT JESUS REPLIES WITH ANOTHER TEST TO SEE IF THE MAN WILL SERVE GOD. HE CALLS ON THE MAN TO SELL EVERYTHING HE HAS AND TO GIVE THE PROCEEDS TO THE POOR. BY DOING THAT HE WILL RECEIVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN. AFTER THAT, HE MUST FOLLOW JESUS AND JOIN HIM IN SERVING GOD.

THE QUESTION IS RAISED...THE SAME QUESTION THAT JESUS ASKS US...WILL WE PREFER THE THINGS THE WORLD HOLDS OUT TO US OR WHAT HEAVEN OFFERS? IT IS NOT A TEST OF OUR WORKS OR OUR ACTIONS, BUT RATHER A PROBING OF OUR HEARTS...WHERE DOES OUR FUNDAMENTAL ALLEGIANCE LIE? IS OUR SECURITY IN GOD'S CALL TO US OR IN OUR POSSESSIONS? WHERE DO WE PLACE OUR FAITH?

FOR THE RULER, THE ANSWER IS THAT HIS HEART IS TOO ATTACHED TO HIS POSSESSIONS...AND HE LEAVES GRIEVING BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP TOO MUCH.

AS HE LEAVES, JESUS MAKES THE FAMOUS REMARK ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS FOR THE RICH TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HOW IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE. IT IS A COMMENT THAT TRAUMATIZES THE DISCIPLES BECAUSE THE BELIEF WAS THAT THE RICH WERE ESPECIALLY BLESSED AND LOOKED UPON WITH FAVOR BY GOD. IF THEY COULDN'T BE SAVED, THEN WHO COULD? BUT THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS OFTEN TOOK THE RICH TO TASK FOR NOT USING THEIR RESOURCES TO EASE THE SUFFERING AND NEEDS OF OTHERS. JESUS IS SIMPLY STANDING FIRMLY ALONGSIDE THE PROPHETS IN HIS INJUNCTION.

FOR MANY OF US, THE DEMANDS OF JESUS ARE TOO MUCH...OUR HEARTS ARE TOO HARDENED. BUT ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR LORD IS THAT IF WE ALLOW HIM TO COME INTO THE DEEPEST CORE OF OUR BEING, HE CAN CHANGE WHAT IS THERE...WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US IS POSSIBLE FOR HIM. THAT IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE DISCIPLES AS THEY HAVE WALKED WITH JESUS SO WHEN PETER ASKS JESUS IF THEY HAVE MET THE TEST, JESUS ASSURES HIM THAT THEY HAVE.

IT IS NOT THAT THE DISCIPLES AND THE OTHERS WHO FOLLOWED JESUS HAD NECESSARILY ALL SOLD EVERYTHING THEY POSSESSED AND GIVEN THE MONEY TO THE POOR. ZACCHAEUS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO STILL OWNED RESOURCES. SALVATION DOES NOT COME THROUGH AN EMPTY BANK ACCOUNT. THE QUESTION THAT IS CENTRAL TO THE ISSUE CONCERNS WHERE OR WHAT WE PUT OUR TRUST IN. FOR THE DISCIPLES AND THE OTHER FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, THE DIRECTION OF GOD BECAME THE CENTRAL FOCUS FOR THEIR LIVES. THEY LEFT EVERYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM. EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE MOMENTS WHEN THEY FAILED, EVEN PETER DENIED JESUS THREE TIMES...THEIR HEARTS WERE TURNED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THEY PLACED THEIR TRUST IN JESUS, NOT IN THEIR MATERIAL POSSESSIONS OR EVEN THEIR HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.

ONE OF THE SCARIEST JOBS A NOVICE SEAMAN WAS ASKED TO DO ON OLD-TIME SAILING SHIPS WAS TO CLIMB THE MAST AND UNFURL OR REPAIR THE SAILS IN THE TOP RIGGING. RIDING HIGH ABOVE THE SWAYING DECK TESTED THE COURAGE OF ANY NEW SAILOR. EVEN WORSE WAS GOING UP IN A STORM. THE ADVICE CAPTAINS OFTEN GAVE YOUNG TRAINEES WAS THIS: "IF YOU LOSE YOUR NERVE AND BECOME AFRAID, DON'T LOOK DOWN, LOOK UP."

KEEP LOOKING UP, MY FRIENDS. IF WE KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON THE ONLY ONE WE CAN REALLY TRUST, OUR PRIORITIES WILL SHIFT INTO THE ORDER THAT OUR LORD WANTS FOR US AND LIFE WILL BEGIN TO TAKE ON INCREDIBLE NEW DEPTH OF MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE. POSSESSIONS, PRIDE, HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS, STATUS, OR POWER...ANYTHING THAT ANCHORS US TO THIS WORLD RATHER THAN FREEING US TO FOLLOW WHERE OUR LORD WANTS TO LEAD US IN MINISTRY AND SERVICE, INDICATES A BREAKDOWN IN OUR DISCIPLESHIP. WE BEGIN TO WORSHIP THE IDOL OF THE CREATED RATHER THAN THE CREATOR.

THERE IS A STORY ABOUT A MAN WHO HAD A DOG THAT HE HAD CARED FOR AND TRAINED SINCE IT WAS A PUP. THE DOG WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIS MASTER AND WOULD BARELY EVEN NOTICE OTHER PEOPLE. THE MAN'S PASTOR LEARNED OF THE STRONG BOND BETWEEN THIS DOG AND HIS MASTER AND ASKED THE MAN TO BRING THE DOG TO CHURCH.

THE NEXT SUNDAY, THE PASTOR HAD THE DOG COME TO THE STAGE. THE PASTOR THREW A BALL AND TOLD THE DOG TO FETCH. THE DOG STAYED BY ITS MASTER. A MAN FROM THE CONGREGATION THREW THE BALL AND TOLD THE DOG TO FETCH. THE DOG DID NOT MOVE. A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN FROM THE CONGREGATION TRIED TO GET THE DOG TO FETCH THE BALL BUT TO NO AVAIL. SEVERAL OTHERS TRIED AND OFFERED THE DOG VARIOUS INCENTIVES, BUT THE DOG HARDLY NOTICED AND NEVER MOVED.

THEN FINALLY THE PASTOR HANDED THE BALL TO THE DOG'S MASTER AND ASKED HIM TO TRY. THE DOG RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY AND FETCHED THE BALL. THE PASTOR TURNED TO THE CONGREGATION AND ASKED THEM, "FOR WHOM ARE YOU FETCHING?"

IN OUR PASSAGE FROM JOHN, JESUS MAKES THE STATEMENT THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD...THAT HE IDENTIFIED COMPLETELY WITH GOD...HIS ACTIONS, HIS LOVE, HIS POWER, HIS MIRACLES, HIS LIFE ITSELF ARE ALL THE RESULT OF BEING SENT INTO THE WORLD BY GOD. HE IS LORD...OMNIPOTENT, HOLY, DIVINE...GOD HIMSELF.

WHAT...OR WHO...DO YOU TRUST? FOR WHOM ARE YOU FETCHING?