What Does That Look Like Today?
Jesus had some pretty powerful things to say, things that turned some people in his day away from following him. As a pastor it is part of my task to take the words we find in Scripture and figure out what they mean for believers today. How do they apply in 2009? One of the sayings I have been wrestling with lately is from Matthew 10:38 and Luke 9:23. “Then he said to all of them: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”
First we need to look at how this played out in the New Testament. Peter, Andrew, James and John left their nets, boats and homes to follow Jesus. Matthew left his tax table to follow Jesus. There was another time after Jesus encountered the rich young ruler that Peter said, “We (meaning all the apostles) have left everything to follow you!” So it seems clear that the apostles gave up quite a lot to follow Jesus.
In the book of Acts we see that the believers sold land and houses,… they had everything in common and gave to anyone in need. I interpret this to mean that when needs arose among the believers individuals did not hesitate to sell some land to help the ones in need. So now let’s fast forward to 2009.
First of all we need to recognize that when the Scripture says, “Then he said to ALL of them,” Jesus was speaking to everyone listening to him not just the apostles. And then when Jesus said, “If anyone…” pretty much makes it inclusive of you and me. So, the question comes back, What does denying self and taking up our cross look like in 2009?
Let’s think about a few examples of decisions that we make. I need a new car and would really like one that has a $40,000.00 price tag. Should I buy a $20,000.00 car and give the other $20,000.00 to the church for missions and ministry? Is that denying self? What if my wife and I were looking to buy a new home and we were looking for a 2-3,000 square foot home for say $450,000.00. Should we instead buy a 1,200 square foot home for around $250,000.00 and give the thousands saved for missionary housing? Is that denying self? Suppose someone takes a golfing vacation to a different state each year to play all the major courses in that state or they take a vacation abroad each year – what does denying self look like in those cases?
Let’s think about some smaller things. What about giving up a meal at the restaurant each week and donating the money we would have spent to an area soup kitchen or to a church food pantry? Is that denying self? What about my weekly Blizzard or the daily cup of special coffee from my favorite coffee shop – how does denying self look when it comes to those things? What about leisure time? If I give up some leisure time each week to mentor a young person, is that denying self? Of what if I take one of my three weeks of vacation to go on a youth mission trip is that denying self?
Of course we could go on and on thinking of different situations, but to find an answer that would cover all or most of the what if’s we need to think of a principle that will help us. Here is one – If there is anything in our lives that we hold on to so tightly that it prevents us from serving the Lord that is a problem. Some would say that thing has become an idle in our life. To deny ourselves would be to turn loose of that thing, whatever it is, and give it and yourself to the Lord.
Well, I’m just thinking! What are you thinking?
Peace!