The Blessed Life Part 2
God Must Be First
Matthew 20:1-28
Gordan Gekko’s 1987 movie Wall Street was very much a movie that reflected the culture of the day, not only in America but Australia. Greed is good. The trouble is, greed gets you into debt. Gordan Gekko went to jail for fraud and insider trading for 20 years. Michael Douglas played Gordan Gekko again in 2010 after he emerged from jail. In that time, between mid-2007 and 2009, the Global Financial Crises had happened and Douglas, playing Gordan Gekko, showed a man who was partly reformed, the character writing a book “Is Greed Good?” The financial markets in America had collapsed with major banks and finance institutions not able to meet their loan repayments until the US government bailed them out. Large parts of middle manufacturing America were ghost towns.
The Apostle Paul said, “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1Timothy 6: 9,10) Isn’t that the truth!
Greed is not good. Paul again: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11) As we said last week, it’s easier said than done at times.
This is part 2 of our series “The Blessed Life”. We heard a number of peoples’ stories last week. Jesus said the blessed life involves endurance, patience and even persecution. (Matthew 5:2-9)
Part 2 The Blessed life – Putting God first. This is the ultimate in trusting in God whatever the circumstance. The disciples had just heard a parable of labourers in the vineyard; regardless of whether they worked 10 hours or 1 hour, they got the same wages – a denarius. The meaning of the parable is that regardless of when you come to faith, whether young or old, whether you are 70 years in the Lord or 7 minutes and then die, your inheritance is the same – eternal life.
The thief on the cross, who had initially ridiculed Jesus with the other thief, had a change of heart and asked that he be remembered by Jesus in His kingdom. This man had died just an hour or so at most after Jesus passed. He received the same reward as the Apostle John, who died around the age of 95 after writing Revelation on Patmos. Both received the same wages.
The disciples had just heard this parable and, in an amazing display of immediate brain fog and self-promotion, James and John asked that they sit on either side of Jesus when they come into glory.
Jesus asked if they could endure what He was about to endure. They ignorantly said yes, not knowing what they were saying. Jesus said they would indeed endure, but that to sit at His right and left hand was not His to grant, but the heavenly Father.
Jesus said of the Gentiles, in verse 25, they carry on like this – one lording over another. We would say ‘a dog-eat-dog world’; ‘greed is good’ mentality.
Our Lord spoke of how to be truly great, how to truly be blessed, if you like. “Whoever would be first among you must be your slave.” (verse 27) Even more than that, to be sacrificial and follow the example of Jesus. He said, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Verse 28) I.E To give up your life, to give up worldly dreams of the flesh: by making earth your heaven.
Putting God first; how is that done?
3 observables of someone who puts God first, not just in name but in nature: Heart, Time, Money.
1. Heart – We know it as the golden rule and Jesus said it covers the law and the prophets. Get this right and all others flow: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37, 38)
2. Time – This one is a real test of a genuine follower of Christ. You see, it is easy to say I’m a Christian, I love Jesus, my sins are forgiven, I’m a sinner, He’s my Saviour. Any demon in Hell can say those things, and they do; I see the evidence all over social media. A true disciple who puts God first shows up with their time. They use their gifts to edify/build up others. They get involved in the life of the church; on Sundays and during the week. They want others to know about Jesus, they get involved in a ministry using their gifts: help maintain the property, serve in the café, on the worship team, kids ministry, life groups, audio/visual, playgroup, welcoming, hospitality, pastoral care, communion, teaching, preaching.
3. Money – This is a big one, because it’s the one many people try and justify or explain away. The explanation goes, ‘Well I’m not under law, I’m under grace.’ Be careful because not all things under the law are dispensed with because of grace. Last I checked, adultery and stealing were both part of the 10 commandment law and not negated by grace in the New Testament. Paul said that on the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2)
The question is: how much? Malachi 3 is fairly clear. “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” (Malachi 3:8-10)
Did Jesus ever speak about tithing? He did actually in Matthew 23:23. “"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
Jesus’ words that the Gentiles, the world, follow after these things. So many are overcome by debt, and living in Australia is tough. Surely, now is the time when we need to exercise faith and put our Lord to the test and see if all your needs will not be more than met.