Teaching Moments

 

    Jesus was a teacher.  Everywhere he went he found ways to teach people.  Some people he was correcting, but other people he was connecting the dots.

    One Sabbath day, Jesus was eating at the house of a Pharisee.  They kept him close to find a way to get rid of him.  While he was at the Pharisee's house, he saw a man with dropsy.  Jesus asked the Pharisees if it is lawful to heal on the sabbath or not.  They wanted to trap him, but he had trapped them so they kept their mouths shut.  Jesus went to the swollen man and healed him and sent him away.  He then turned his attention back to the Pharisees.  His questions were not meant to be answered.  They were rhetorical, but they needed to be asked.  According to Luke, Jesus performed five miracles on the Sabbath and none were appreciated by the Pharisees.

     Jesus pointed out to them that they chose the seating to honor themselves.  It is better to allow other people to honor them instead of them demanding honor. .  It is wise to chose the lowest seat and then allow others to place you in the seat of honor than to assume that you deserve to be honored.  This humiliated their pride because exalting your self only can lead to a fall.  It is always humbled one way or another.  The fact is arrogance leads to humiliation.

    The next thing Jesus pointed out is when we are giving to people, we don't need to just give to family and friends who may try to repay you.  Give to people that can't repay you.  Give to the poor, sick, and handicapped.  You will receive blessings instead of repayment.  You may have to wait until resurrection, but that means that you can do good and then forget about it.

    Don't make excuses to not serve God or to avoid doing good.  If you don't want to do things, then just don't do them.  You don't need to lie or excuse yourself.  God will overlook an selfish, but honest reply over a lie.  He will just overlook you and move on to those that appreciate what he has given them.  

    The fact is Jesus comes first or he doesn't.  He can't teach that.  It just is or isn't.  He can educate and let you know that your life is better if you put him first.  He just can't make you do it.   However, if you start a big project like construction, but can't finish it because you didn't handle your affairs properly, then you leave yourself open to ridicule and judgment.  Same goes with your salvation.   You have to invest into God to be able to grow and mature.

    To put Jesus first means to put him above your own personal desires.  However it goes deeper.  It means putting your relationship with him over your family, job, or even church if necessary.  You can't cherish your own life more than he cherishes your life.  He is invested in you.  You need to trust that and let him work in your life, so that you can work with your life.  

    Don't start things that you can't or won't finish.  Don't take on more than what you can handle or everything you do is only at half effort.  Commit and work toward a few things instead of spreading yourself thin and giving the bare minimal if anything at all.  You are either going to put Jesus first or you are not, but you are not a disciple unless you do.

Luke 14