WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?
March 9, 2008 PM
Sermon Outline
MK 10:28-31
INTRO: Very often in life we are placed in situations within which we pose the question, "What's in it for me?" We may be asked to do some costly or difficult favor for another. We may be asked to take on some task beyond the usual. We may be asked to make some sort of sacrifice for an objective or cause. It is difficult, in our humanness, not to wonder, "What's in it for me?" Not many of us like being in the position of having to give without expecting to receive something in return. So, Jesus would say, "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? ... And if ye salute your brethren only what do ye more than others?" Jesus knew human nature. And He also knew that human nature worked against the kind of attitude which suited us for the kingdom and for kingdom work.
- PETER'S OBSERVATION AND QUESTION
- The background?
- Peter has seen a man invited to follow Jesus (10:21)
- and he has seen this man choose to reject the invitation (10:22)
- his mind is working around all of this in view of his own situation
- "We have left all, and have followed thee"
- Mt 4:18-20 - Peter had heard Jesus say, "Follow me"
- and Peter (with companions) "left their nets, and followed him"
- livelihood, family, home, etc. had been "left" in order to follow Jesus
- Think about Lk 14:33
- how willing are we to let go of things important to us in favor of Him?
- have our material things, relationships encroached into discipleship?
- Phil 3:7,8 - the once important things were no longer important when compared to his relationship to Christ ... that's Paul - what about you?
- From Mt 19:27 - "What shall we have therefore?"
- doubtless, Peter is comparing himself to the rich young ruler
- that young man rejected Jesus - Peter had not
- so, there is the seeming obvious question, "What's in it for me/us?"
- The background?
- JESUS ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SACRIFICING MAY BE NECESSARY
- Notice, first, that what Jesus says applies to all
- "There is no man that hath left..."
- what He is about to say does not apply only to the apostles
- What are our priorities? real estate? family? things?
- listen to Lk 14:17-20
- what is it that is so valuable, important that we would prefer it to Him?
- well, the reality is that at some point we may be faced with exactly this kind of choice - and how will we choose?
- Familiar words of Jesus...
- Mt 10:37-39
- notice the words "more than me" - there is the key ... priority
- we must lose our interests in favor of His when the choice must be made
- Notice, first, that what Jesus says applies to all
- THE GREAT PROMISE TO TRUE DISCIPLES?
- There is something in it for us!
- this is not the "health and wealth" idea espoused by some TV preachers
- it is the promise of a much larger family and benefit to us
- it is a "now in this time" promise
- I was fortunate to be reared in a Christian home - did not have to "forsake" father & mother - but I do have family members with whom I have little in common except "blood"
- in Christ I have many siblings, many children, many treasures
- recall the words of Jesus at Lk 8:19-21 - is this what Jesus meant?
- Two very important additional notes...
- "with persecutions" - Jesus does not gloss over the truth of discipleship
- in this life there are blessings - but there are also the difficulties
- it is how we deal with the difficulties that tells the tale of our discipleship
- "in the life to come eternal life" - this is the goal toward which we look
- the rich young ruler made a terrible choice by comparison with what he could have enjoyed as a disciple of Christ
- but some of us may be making the same sort of unwise choice!
- There is something in it for us!
- AN IMPORTANT WORD ABOUT "SIGNIFICANCE"
- Mk 10:31 - First is last, and last is first!
- lest any disciple think himself to be something because of sacrifice...
- lest any disciple tend to be "puffed up" because of role
- there is the simple word from the Lord
- Significance is not in role, not in works, not in "sacrifice"
- it is in humility that says, "I'm not important. Jesus and the gospel are"
- Phil 3:8b-11 - "that I might win Christ"
- my significance is in my relationship to Jesus Christ!
- Mk 10:31 - First is last, and last is first!
CLOSE: What's in it for me? Everything that means anything!
Cecil A. Hutson
09 March 2008