Text:
Luke 22:24-30 March 22,
2009
INTRODUCTION:
1) Big time ministry: David Roper, one of the
writers of OUR DAILY BREAD, said that
he heard someone commented about a certain preacher. “This man is destined for a great ministry,”
by which he meant that preacher was headed for the big time---a high-profile
church with a huge budget and thousands of people on Sunday morning services.
That comment made him wonder: Why do people think that success in God’s call is
necessarily an upward mobile? Why wouldn’t God send His best workers to labor
for a lifetime in some small places? Do people in obscure places need to be
taught to know God and be saved?
2) All times ministry: Jesus cared about
individuals, small groups as well as masses. He taught Nicodemus and Mary one
on one. He taught his disciples in small groups of three or the twelve. Of
course, He taught and fed the 5,000 on the hillside. It didn’t bother Him even
when His audience grew smaller. “Many had left Him,” John said (6:66), a fickle
attrition that would have thrown most of us into high panic. Yet Jesus pressed
on with those the Father gave Him whatever the numbers may be.
SUCCESS IN MODERN CULTURE:
1) Success means size: We live in the modern day
culture that bigger means better and size is the measure of success. We see
this in almost everything from businesses, houses, cars, budgets, income, bank
account and countless other things. Big means more and more is what people in
this world are seeking. There may be one exception: size and more may not be
desirable when it comes to body weight and waistline.
2) Success means position: All through human history,
regardless of culture and time, position means success: the higher position you
occupy, the more success you must be. This is true every-where from business to
politics, from everyday life to family. If you are more successful, you occupy
a higher position. We see people love to place titles (position) on their name
cards.
3) Success means image: Another symbol of success
is image. We see many people try to create and promote self-image so they look
successful. They will drive expensive cars, wear expensive name brand clothing,
watches and jewelry. They will join elite clubs only successful and wealthy
people are members and they will patronize select expensive restaurants. And of
course, they make friends with people of success-image.
4) Success means name: Some people try to build
their names as symbol of success. They will do things that people will honor or
remember them and their names while they are still living and after they are
gone. They will donate money to organizations, buildings, schools and churches
and others that people will honor them by naming whatever it may be in their
honor. Some even use irregular means to buy degree, title, diploma, etc. to
promote their names as symbols of success.
SUCCESS IN BIBLICAL CULTURE:
1) It’s faithfulness, not size: “So, men ought to regard
us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must be proven
faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2) In the parable of “The Talents”, Jesus did not
place the importance of size of the endowment or the returns, He, instead,
emphasized the importance of faithful use of whatever endowment received. God
doesn’t give all people same amount of gifts. But He expects all of us to do
faithfully on whatever we have received.
2) It’s servant-hood, not
position:
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash
one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done
for you.” (John 13:14-15) Washing someone’s feet is the lowest position one can
get at Jesus time and he did just that. He wanted us to serve others even on
the lowest job. To Him, it is not the position that matters, but the spirit and
service of a lowly servant that counts.
3) It’s God’s glory, not our
image:
“This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit.” (John 15:8) Bearing
much fruit is the same as being very successful. But the result of much fruit
is never meant to elevate our image but to glorify God. Whatever God allows us
to achieve, whatever result we may bring with hard work or opportunity, we do
it to bring glory to God, not to our own honor or image.
4) It’s Jesus’ name, not ours: “Therefore God exalted him
(Jesus) to the highest place and gave him the name that is above all names.”
(Philippians 2:9) Many people, ancient and modern, love to build shrines so
people may remember their names. But no name receives as much honor or lasts as
long as the name of Jesus. “That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in
heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God, the Father.” (2:10-11)
LESSONS ON BIG AND SMALL: (Luke 22:24-30)
1) An eternal human defect: “A dispute arose among the
disciples as to which of them was considered to be the greatest. (Luke 22:24)
Wanting to be the greatest or biggest is not a modern day issue. It has been
there through thousand of years in human history. Being the disciples of Jesus,
listening to many teachings of Jesus didn’t change that human defect. This
nature of self promotion and personal glory has ruined countless churches,
destroyed many effective ministries and tarnished many faithful and devoted
followers of the Lord.
2) It’s all about authority: “The king of the Gentiles
lord over them and those who exercise authority over them call themselves
benefactors.” (22:25) Lording over others is a temptation from the very
beginning of the world and is wide spread in all levels or human society. In
God’s people, we only have one Lord and that is Lord Jesus. We don’t need to
have other lords and no one should see himself as lord over others no matter
what position he may have in God’s church. We are all God’s people and brother
or sisters of His family.
3) Turning big into small: “Instead the greatest among
you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.”
(22:26)Those who are in high position are to act like those in humble position
and those who are in position of ruling need to lower their position and serve
others. Biblical principles on high and low, big and small are so different
from that of the secular world: the big needs to become small.
4) Jesus, the best example: “For who is greater, the
one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the
table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (22:27)The Lord Jesus humbled himself
from being Lord of the universe to become a man and to serve people of the
world even to die on the cross. Jesus didn’t just teach us good lessons, he
acted out the lessons so others may learn from him.
5) We need to stand by Him: “You are those who have
stood by me in my trials.” (22:28)To stand by Jesus is to keep close with him.
It also means to support him and his position. If we stand by him in time of
glory and honor, we also need to stand by him in time of trials, humility and
service.
6) Greatness comes from God: “And I confer you a
kingdom, just as my Father conferred on me, so you may eat and drink at my
table in my kingdom and sit on thrones.”(22:29-30) True Christians greatness is
not on earth but in heaven, the kingdom of God. All positions of honor, big or
small, is conferred on us by the Lord for eternity. They are gifts of God, not
our own success.
CONCLUSION:
1) Be very careful: Since we still live in
this world and are being influenced by the culture of this world, we need to be
very careful when we relate to people around us at home, in school, at work or
in the church. Fighting for position of honor is not compatible with Christian
principles. It can only create conflicts and contention that will hurt or
destroy a family, a relationship, a ministry or even a church. Always on the
lookout for such a temptation and stop it before it stops you from being a good
and faithful servant of the Lord.
2) Be very faithful: It is never how big you
may become but how faithful you are in tasks God has assigned you. Be faithful
to the position God has assigned to you, the class you teach, the small job you
are responsible of and the proper attitude you have about all these. God is not
looking for big and famous people. He is looking for the good and the faithful.
3) Be very smart: If you care so much about
your worldly success, you should be smarter to care about your success in
eternity. Begin to build your eternal assets in heaven while you are still
here. Call on Jesus to save you from your sins and give you new life in His
Kingdom. Ask him to come into your life and be your Lord and Savior so you can
start a new life that is truly great and important.