| November 18, 2007
You are Welcome to reflect on this message
Today’s story is another one of several “one thing only” stories in the Bible. Mark uses the phrase with his story of the woman who anointed Jesus for burial. Then last week, with the Apostle Paul’s positive take on it: “This one thing I do,” striving to be like Jesus. Paul’s single-mindedness led to a purposeful, fulfilling life. Today’s “one thing only” is a negative; something one lacks; without which he cannot be satisfied. What’s the “one thing,” this young man, who had everything, was missing? It sure wasn’t money! The “one thing” Jesus spoke about more often than any other. He talked more about money, property, and material possessions than any other subject; including God, prayer, war/terrorism, politics, and even sex. No doubt Jesus knew what he was talking about. And maybe part of it was because of our attachments, that stand so frequently between us and others; us and God. “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” he said, “than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25). Yeah, and none of us are rich, right?
Jesus is paired in Mark’s story with a rich man to whom he was so attracted, he invited him to join with his intimate circle of disciples. He’s a prominent citizen; upper class; has a lot going for him. He was also a religious man, who grew up in a devout Jewish home and followed the traditions of his faith from an early age. He was a good man too, who honestly tried to live by the best of his religious heritage and it's requirements. He’s one of those rare individuals – a man of means, who tried to give God a prominent place in his life.
Then one day he met Jesus. And the rich man is enamored with the Nazarene. He took the initiative to seek him out, where they could talk about those things that really matter – and he’s hooked! Hooked on Jesus...for a little while. Still he’s cautious, the way the well-off are always very careful because they have too much to guard. He checks with his advisers about Jesus and probably had him investigated by people who do such things for a fee. But Jesus comes up clean.
So now he’s even more convinced about him. He perceives in Jesus, a depth of understanding, something real and wild and free ...things that he himself had always strived for, but somehow couldn't quite get. Something kept him from it. So how can he get what Jesus has? “Good Teacher, what must I do to get it?” Jesus didn't answer directly, but toyed around and asked him a question. “Why do you call me good?” Jesus squirmed. “Only God is good. All else is up for grabs. You know the commandments: do not steal, kill, lie, fool around ...and all that stuff.” And of course he knew them. He said so proudly: “All these I’ve observed from my youth.”
Jesus sympathizes. And plays with him no longer, because he really likes this guy. But rather than brag on him for keeping the commandments, Jesus turned it around on him, offers not one compliment, just this bombshell: “Yeah all that’s great. But you lack one thing.” What on earth could it be? Because this guy had it all. He’s mastered the commandments since he was in Sunday School. It really doesn't take much to challenge our claims to goodness or demolish our delusions of righteousness, does it? Just ... one thing. But my what a thing!
It wasn't something the man was ashamed of. Nah Jesus would never belittle him, but he sure did challenge him. And not with a drawback but a blessing. Jesus didn't just add another commandment to the list either. Instead, he called for “1 thing only:” loyalty. Unqualified, comprehensive loyalty to God. That’s what it takes to follow him. “You lack one thing. Here it is: sell what you have, give to the poor and you’ll have treasure in heaven. Then come and join with us.” Do you feel the impact of that? Sell it ALL? Everything I’ve worked and saved for, just give it away, to somebody who doesn’t deserve it? Get real!
What in the world was Jesus thinking? Why so hard on this guy? Jesus didn't demand that kind of divesture of all his followers. Just this one. Zacchaeus of Jericho got off light with just a half; the fishermen only had to leave their nets; Matthew, his tax table. But from the rich young ruler – the whole kit-and-caboodle! Like a “soul surgeon,” Jesus deftly plunged the scalpel into the very heart of the man's dilemma. And instantly he knew it. You know, the way we know such things, even though we haven't admitted it to ourselves? He’s mastered the law and all the commandments. Well, all but the first one: “You shall have no other gods before me.” He’s been cursed with having too much. Would that we could all be so fortunate. He thought he’s hooked on Jesus, until this. But what he's really hooked on, is his possessions. The “one and only thing” that stood between him and God. It was too much to ask. So “he walks away sad,” disappointed, but still hooked. ‘Cause everybody’s hooked on something.
The man had been practicing a religion that couldn't cut it. He thought Jesus had the missing piece to his life. He looked Jesus up for the solution. He came to the right Guy with the right answer. And when Jesus gave it to him, he walked away from it. Can you believe it? Because he found the hard way and blew away that bumper-sticker theology, that “Christ is not the answer, but the enigma!” I see it all the time. A man tries to avoid making up his mind. But he can't keep from making up his life. Every day you’re living something out, no matter what you think or say. By walking away grieving, he made his decision, one he’d be sorry for. You know Jesus was sad too. Not too many people refused Jesus' call. But this one with so much potential did.
Ever wonder what became of him? I have a theory. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus told a story of another rich man, who was “clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day” (Luke 16:19-33). A beggar lay by the rich man's gate, where dogs licked his wounds. He’d have eaten the crumbs that fell from his table, but got none. So when they both die the beggar was carried to Abraham's bosom while the rich man found himself getting what he lived for in this life: a place of torment.
I’m guessing: this could be the same man who refused to follow Jesus, who “went away sad”...this is what he became in his old age, a man with “too many barns,” because he was too hooked on what he owned to let it go. So rather than share any of it, he built bigger barns to hold all of it. He’s to be pitied – for what he could’ve done, but did not. One thing only. Luke 16 may be the continuation of the story of what became of the rich young ruler. Even though he was quite fortunate in this life, his decision not to follow Christ ended up in eternal misfortune. That is sad, isn't it? What could’ve been, but never happened.
So how do we learn from his mistake? He who had so much but gave so little. It’s a serious issue: to look back over our should and say,”I wish I had.” I believe involvement in our church is one way to ensure that we don't end up like this poor, rich guy. To give a portion of what we earn to God through this church, it’s one way we can share what we have. When we give what we have away, one thing’s for sure: we’re not hooked on something unworthy of our allegiance. Because the truth is, everybody’s hooked on something. Jesus comes to us like he came to this young man, with the same proposition. Remove anything that stands between you and God and give your loyalty to Christ. “Feed my sheep.” It’s the “1 thing” that counts. Can we treat property as property and people as people and God as God? November is generosity-month in our church -- a time to consider stories like the rich young ruler and contemplate what you will add to what God’s doing through our church next year.
That’s all I’m asking of you today: One thing. That we prayerfully consider increasing our giving to God this year by at least 4%, the increase in our budget. This historic congregation deserves our support. Sacrifice for what you believe in. Fill out your pledge card the way you feel led of God and lay it on the altar Dec. 2nd, Pledge Sunday. Before you make out your pledge card, let me lay some numbers on you. Our pledge goal for 2008 is $130,000. Divide that by 75 givers of record and it boils down to this: If each of us divided our share equally, and gave $140 per month next year, our budget would be met. Break it down, and that's $30 per week or less than 5 bucks a day. Heck, a bowl of soup over at Chocalad is only $4.50! Doesn’t sound like much does it? “Little” and “much” are slippery terms. But the truth is, compared to what we’ll spend at the mall next month, it's not much! It’s almost embarrassing.
But the bottom line is: to reach our 2008 pledge goal, that's what each contributor would need to give. Now don’t get me wrong: I'm not appealing to how little a promise you can make! When Christ “emptied himself” and left heaven’s glories, to become obedient unto death? How can I do that? Our responsibility as church members is to be more Christian than how “little” we can give. Ours is a “2nd mile; what do ye more than others?” ethic. So I want to thank everyone who went the 2nd mile for us and gave to our church this year.
One of my lifetime goals has been to have no addictions. Even though we’re all hooked on something. I want my addictions to be positive -- that enhance life, not deplete it; so I won’t have to “go away sad.” I won’t allow myself to be controlled by a bottle, or a needle, or power. Too many people are hooked, like this rich man. You know you're hooked on alcohol if your drinking gives you problems. You know you're hooked on sex if you cheat. You know you're addicted to drugs if you'll do anything to get them. You know you're not addicted to money if you promise to give a portion of it away and follow through on it. I know “one thing:” it’ll make God smile.
And I hope we’ll pull together make a meaningful pledge to this historic Meeting House in 2 weeks, so that we’ll begin to discover how free we are from the tyranny of allowing what we own, to own us! Otherwise, like the man who “walked away sad, to build bigger barns,” but shared none of it, we too will be hooked.
Prayer: Almighty God, let us not be afraid to pledge our loyalty to this special church, that’s been here so long. May this worship provide us an effective way to be witnesses to a way of living that is more than fulfilling, more than required, and content only with the best. Amen. |
