Month: July 2022

Focused Friendship

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(Ruth 1:1-19)

It’s catching up to me. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to put it off. I’m squinting more than I used to and, while I wish I could say it’s because of the bright sun, it’s not. No, it’s because things further away have somehow managed to get blurrier in recent years. So squinting is an attempt to sharpen my focus in order to see things more clearly. It’s frustrating when things are blurry. When things are blurry they’re out of focus.

When the blurred vision is gradual, it’s often so subtle that a person isn’t aware of how out of focus things have become. We get used to what is blurry. You’ve experienced this if you’ve thought your eyesight was just fine, only to try on someone else’s glasses and find they allowed you to see things much more clearly. You might remember thinking that you don’t need one of those fancy new 4K Ultra super high definition televisions you see walking into the electronics store because the picture on your current television is just fine. But if you saw the two screens right next to each other, you would realize how much you’ve gotten used to a lower-quality picture.

While we could probably get by faking it through a lot of areas in life not realizing how blurry things are, doing so spiritually could have devastating results. So we want to bring our spiritual lives into focus over the next several weeks. 

We start by looking at friendship. Much has been made of the rampant loneliness affecting people today, which is rather surprising given that social media and online activity have allowed us to connect to more people than ever before. Nevertheless, we’re isolated. We’re alone. We don’t have as many friends as we used to. 

Yet, we all value friendship. We all crave it. When we think of meaningful friendships, we do so in terms of how other people treat us. We assess our friends on the basis of how reliable they are, how quickly they respond, how interested in us they are, how much they share with us, etc.

Do you notice this? Our valuation of friendships is almost entirely based on what others do or don’t do for us (as opposed to a focus on what we do or don’t do for others). Doesn’t this betray how innately self-centered we are? It’s like we view our friendships as if we’re in the HR department and constantly either conducting interviews to hire new friends or doing performance reviews on our current friends to see if they still measure up. Our view of friendship is naturally out of focus. It’s blurry – at least when we compare our view of friendship with God’s view of it and his desire for it.

As we look at Ruth, we start to see things more clearly. We start to see what focused friendship looks like; friendship that seeks first to be friendly rather than to be friended. Why does it matter? Is our goal simply to be more like Ruth as we pursue focused friendship? No, but as we do, our own relationships will blossom and God’s kingdom will bloom. 

Stick with that picture for a moment. You don’t have to be a green thumb or a garden guy or gal to appreciate flowers. Even if you don’t fancy yourself the flower type, we can all agree that plants, trees, and flowers that are healthy and blooming with bright colors and fascinating structure and growth liven up a yard or a room in a way that neglected or dying plants cannot. Think about it – have you ever given someone flowers or a plant only to see a downcast expression on their face as a result? Never! Such things cheer and uplift! In the same way, so does focused friendship. So let us pursue focused friendship with the confidence that our own relationships will blossom and God’s kingdom will bloom.

One introductory detail serves to make Ruth’s story stand out: “In the days when the judges ruled…” (v.1). Yes, Ruth’s dedication, her focused friendship which we see in this account, is inspiring in its own right. However, what makes her story pop even more is the backdrop against which it is set.

The “days when the judges ruled” were not Israel’s finest! In fact, the main theme that runs through the time of the judges is Israel’s self-centered rebellious disregard of friendship with the Lord! They repeatedly pursued friendship with the heathen nations around them – which might have been noble on their part if the intent was to turn them to the true God – but it wasn’t! Their pursuit of friendship with the world was based on worldly, godless attraction, the very kind God demanded they avoid as he prepared them for the promised land. 

And to shine an even brighter light on Ruth, notice that she wasn’t even an Israelite; she was a Moabite! A quick little refresher on the Moabites: their beginning was “ewwww.” After fleeing from Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot allowed his daughters to get him drunk and then they each slept with him. The oldest daughter’s son was named Moab, from where the Moabites came (Genesis 19:30ff). And if you remember the account of the talking donkey and the king who tried to enlist the help of a prophet to call down curses on Israel – that King Balak was king of Moab (Numbers 22-24). So not only was Ruth not a Jew, but as a Moabite, her family history was less than favorable!

It’s hard not to see the parallels with the Gospel account of the Good Samaritan. The good samaritan was the last individual anyone listening to Jesus would have expected to be the good one! Surely the priest or the levite should have been good! But neither was. Instead it was the Samaritan, degraded inferiors as far as the Jewish people were concerned. God truly goes to great lengths to see that his lessons hit the mark! He allows those who would be considered the least to take the lead in exemplifying who and what we are to be.

Now let us look to Ruth’s example of focused friendship. It starts with Naomi. Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, had lost her husband over a decade ago. Naomi’s two sons had married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Then Naomi’s sons both died, leaving Naomi without any male at all in her house, which at that time would have had a devastating impact on how Naomi would be able to get by. With Naomi’s blessing, Orpah left Naomi and returned to her people to make a fresh start re-establish her life. While we don’t take issue with Orpah’s decision to do so, her actions end up showcasing the selflessness of Ruth even more. 

Rather than follow suit and make a new beginning for herself as her mother-in-law encouraged her to, Ruth makes a remarkable decision. She opts to put her mother-in-law’s needs – and really her life – ahead of her own. Ruth was such a devoted daughter-in-law that she could only think of Naomi’s needs. That prompted her heart-felt commitment to Naomi: “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me” (v.16-17).    

Through Ruth, God provided for Naomi’s physical needs, but through Ruth’s greater Son, God provided for the spiritual needs of all people. Through Jesus, God provided for eternity. And no, Jesus was not merely another fine example, as Ruth and the Good Samaritan were; he was much more. His focused friendship toward fallen mankind was prompted by agape love, and unconditional love that was determined to do not what was in his own best interest, but what was absolutely necessary for the salvation of souls. His focused friendship meant a willingness to allow his Father forget and abandon him so he could forgive and absolve us. He put our needs before his own. Though again and again Satan tried to entice Jesus with some self-care, that surely just a little bit here and there he could put himself first, Jesus refused. He cared too much about us to put himself first. What focus! What devotion! What love! What friendship!

Do you have any friendships like that? Yes. You have Jesus. But do you treat your relationship with him as you do a dear friend? Do you put him first? Are you eager to spend time with him and hear from his Word what is on his heart and mind? Or… do you treat his friendship like we do so many others, giving attention to them only on the basis of “what have you done for me lately?” The answer for all of us is the same – too often, in too many ways, we don’t treat Jesus like a very good friend in our relationship with him. We don’t even deserve his friendship as a result.

Despite that though, he treats each and every one of us as if we’re his absolute best friend. And he always will. His friendship with us is grace-driven; it’s not based on how we treat him. May I ask a silly question? Do you enjoy knowing that your relationship with Jesus is grace-driven? Does that feel good?

What if someone else was able to first experience that good feeling through your friendship with them? What if you were their first experience with a grace-filled friendship – a friendship not because of what they gave you first or in return, but simply because you cared about them and chose to befriend them no matter what?

Focused friendship sees other people the way Jesus sees us. When our existing relationships are grace-driven and when we look to establish new grace-driven friendships, it’s as if we’re giving out free samples of what a grace-driven friendship with Jesus is like.

Has a free sample ever worked for you? Did you ever decide on that flavor of ice cream because you got to sample it first? Of course! Do you think others might be drawn more to Jesus if they experience more grace-driven friendship from Jesus’ followers, instead of only believing our culture’s negative narrative about Christians and Christianity? If you agree about any of this, then join me in being more focused in friendship – existing friendships and establishing new friendships, with the understanding that our grace-driven friendship with others could very likely make an eternal difference. He may very well be waiting to use your grace-driven friendship with them to ultimately bring others into an eternal grace-driven friendship with him.

Ministry

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(1 Peter 5:1-4)

What is ministry? While describing what it involves, Peter also provided a good definition with the phrase, “eager to serve” (v.2). Ministry is service. Of course, we have to be a little more specific. There are lots of ways to serve others, but we are speaking specifically of kingdom-related service. The server bringing the lunch you just ordered to your table is serving, but that’s not ministry. The man checking in the back to see if they have the shoes you’re looking at in your size is serving, but that’s not ministry. The mail carrier delivering your mail to your mailbox is serving, but that’s not ministry. 

Yet, each of those roles just mentioned could also be viewed as an individual’s personal ministry. The server, the shoe salesman, and the mail carrier could view their jobs as opportunities to serve the physical needs of others while also keeping eyes open to meet spiritual needs as the opportunity arises. Connections with real people can be made, which can lead to conversations, which can lead to Christ, either indirectly or directly. The server can offer to pray for the table that seems to be hurting. The shoe salesman can consistently serve with a smile and a joy that compels customers to ask the reason why. The mail carrier can take moments here and there to get to know the families along the route to build relationships that might lead to invitations. We could call this personal ministry. 

There is also congregational ministry. When believers join together as a congregation, it is to see that gospel ministry is carried out. Our school is reviewing its mission statement, which would probably not be a bad thing for the congregation, too. A mission statement is a reminder of the gospel ministry that we gather together to carry out.

Are you only involved in congregational ministry if you’re knocking on doors or visiting members or leading a small group? No – however each of us utilizes the gifts God has given us to care for and put to use the facilities and resources God has given us so that the gospel can continue to be preached, taught, learned, and shared, is congregational ministry. Which ones are most important? All of them. 

I could ask which link in the chains holding up the swings on a swingset is the most important. Is it the link by which the swing is attached to the swing set? Is it the link that connects to the seat of the swing? Is it a link somewhere in the middle? They all matter because they all work together to make allow the swing to swing. If any one of them broke, the swing wouldn’t function. So all of the gifts God has given you matter when used in service of the church so that the church can be the church and do what the church has been called to do: communicate Christ. We all work collectively to carry out that congregational ministry. 

God wants to make sure that personal and congregational ministry never dry up or cease, so he established the type of ministry which Peter is speaking about in these verses. We call this the public ministry or sometimes representative ministry. This is where pastors, teachers, or staff ministers have been called by groups of Christians to represent and serve them publicly. God has established this office of the public ministry, but he has not designated one specific form, which is why we see a variety of terms in the Bible that apply to this public ministry. A few examples of these ministry titles are “overseers,” “ministers,” and “elders,” as Peter calls them in our verses. While there may be slightly different titles or designations in the public ministry, God has given guidance as to the responsibilities of anyone holding the office of public ministry.

Peter compares the role and responsibility of this gospel ministry to the work of a shepherd. He writes, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care…” (v.2). The apostle Paul used the same picture when encouraging public ministers as he was saying farewell to the congregation he served in Ephesus: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock” (Acts 20:28-29). This is no accident. Why might God use the description of a shepherd to convey what he wants public ministers to do? Because that role is to be a reflection of our Good Shepherd.

Our Good Shepherd looks after us, his sheep. He guides us and guards us. He protects us and provides for us. He corrects us and cares for us. He feeds us and leads us. Every good and beneficial thing in our lives – physically and spiritually – comes to us only because our Good Shepherd is behind it.

And one of the ways our Good Shepherd provides for us spiritually is through his undershepherds – those serving in the public ministry. Pastors are called to carry out the work of the Good Shepherd. Many of the blessings of our Good Shepherd then, he bestows on us through his pastor shepherds 

When you hear the pastor’s comforting assurance of the resurrection at the death of a fellow Christian, you are hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd. When the pastor calls on his wayward sheep, you are hearing the loving correction and discipline of your Good Shepherd. When the pastor faithfully feeds you with Word and sacrament, you are really filled with the food of the Good Shepherd’s banquet. The Good Shepherd has given the public ministry, not for the sake of establishing an entourage around popular preachers or spiritual celebrities, but for you to grow closer to your Good Shepherd, to faithfully follow him and commit all that you are and all that you have to him.

How do pastors carry out this public ministry? In positive terms, Peter writes they are to serve willingly, eagerly, and by being an example (vs. 2-3). No one is forced or coerced into ministry but pursues it willingly. No one is installed or ordained into ministry against their will. It is a vocation that is pursued and prepared for, and it is nothing short of the greatest privilege of all.

It is also an extension of what Jesus embodied on the night before he died – a life of proverbial foot-washing – eager service to others. The pastor is called to serve the sheep, not be served by them.

The pastor will also recognize that he is to be an example for the flock. A shepherd will lead not merely with words, but with actions. The shepherd should not expect to see in his sheep what his sheep fail to see in their shepherd.  

Peter also states how not to carry out this ministry. Public ministry is never paycheck-driven or geared toward making a buck. While spiritual scam artists have always existed and will always exist, there is no place for such abuse when it comes to shepherding God’s flock. The financially-focused pastor cannot give his undivided attention to caring for souls.

Neither will he abuse the authority or responsibility that has been entrusted to him in watching over the sheep. His is not a position of control, but of care; his is not the calling of tyrant but of servant. His is a high and holy calling from God, and one that is to be a rich blessing to God’s flock as he carries out the public ministry.

And if he’s carrying out his work faithfully, God’s powerful Word will see to it that he is equipping you for both your personal and congregational ministry. You can help him in that role. Just as the shepherd is to be a blessing to his sheep, so also can the sheep be a blessing to their shepherd. How do sheep help their shepherd? Let’s begin with our perception.

Do you see yourself belonging to a congregation merely to “go to church”… or to carry out the ministry the Chief Shepherd has given to you and the congregation? Now for some sheep, it would be a grand step in the right direction just to start going to church regularly. Worship is one of the primary ways the shepherd carries out his role of feeding the sheep – work that is difficult to do if sheep rarely show up to eat. 

But there are also sheep who are far too content to feed and feed and feed to the point of being too stuffed for service. They eat, but they do not view the spiritual food as fuel for ministry.

Or, it may be that they are not aware of the personal or congregational ministry opportunities. What are some? Consider a congregation with a school – do they have a school ministry, or do you as a member also have a ministry to your school? How do you view it? When we have Bible classes or services in person and online, are those just for you, or does your ministry also include thinking of and inviting others to those opportunities to be fed? Do you look around as the flock gathers and see other sheep for you to serve or other sheep to serve you? Can you serve your shepherd pastor by heeding his encouragement and applying what he says? Can you see clearly how your personal ministry connects to your congregational ministry? 

As sheep, we need to either shape up or stay in shape. The power God’s Word possesses equips us to be great sheep and be a blessing to the shepherd pastor. When that happens we can all focus on adding more sheep to the flock while the flock also cares for itself under the guidance of its shepherd and ultimately the Good Shepherd.  

Are sheep ever going to carry out that ministry perfectly? No, and how could they be expected to when there is no shepherd who is able to carry out his ministry perfectly? No sheep deserves to be a part of the flock and no shepherd is deserving of such a title and calling.

That is why the Good Shepherd is necessary. Only through the Good Shepherd – Jesus – can anyone be brought into the flock. He carried out the role of the perfect Lamb of sacrifice when he sacrificed himself on the cross for our sins. His blood alone purifies us to be his sheep.

Only the Good Shepherd qualifies sheep to be in his flock and pastors to shepherd and care for his flock. And he will continue to Shepherd both through his powerful Word – now and into eternity. “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17). 

Commitment

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(Luke 9:51-62)

Are we really that bad at commitment, or are we just over-committed? There is a difference. Being bad at commitment simply means you don’t stick with doing what you say you’re going to do. Companies and services are well aware of our lack of commitment. Cell phone providers offer great deals in exchange for a one or two-year commitment because they know that otherwise you’ll likely jump ship and go somewhere else. 

They also offer free trials. “Try this service for free for so many days and if you don’t like it, just cancel at no charge.” Now we could presume that they are so convinced you’ll be won over by that trial period that you’ll continue paying for their service or… they have studied the statistics that support the number of people who will not follow through with their commitment to cancel before being charged for a subscription. Those people then go on months or years somehow unaware of the ongoing charge. 

We could look at marriage and divorce statistics to support our lack of commitment, too. The number of billboards for divorce lawyers would imply that business is good. And of course, fewer and fewer couples are even getting married in the first place, which also reflects an unwillingness to commit. 

Or, if it isn’t that we lack commitment, it may be that we are over-committed. Do we still fool ourselves into thinking that we can say yes to an endless list of commitments without ever giving anything up? We try to squeeze one more thing into the same 24-hour day that we’ve always had, and wonder why we end up dropping the ball here and there. Commitment is more than just saying “yes” to some event or activity; it is also saying yes to the necessary responsibilities that accompany that commitment. My kid playing the sport doesn’t just mean showing up for a game once in a while; it means multiples practices each week, perhaps weekend tournaments, coordinated pickups and drop-offs, snacks, plans for where the other kids are going to be, end of the year party, coach’s gift, etc. – and that’s just one commitment! How many of those types of commitments can we successfully pull off? And more importantly, how many of those commitments end up squeezing out the other commitments that we’ve already told ourselves are the ones that matter?

If that is where we’re at culturally, struggling so much with commitment, should we really be surprised to see a struggle with commitment in the Christian church?  

As Jesus walked with his disciples, he had three separate exchanges with individuals. Each one demonstrated a deficiency when it comes to commitment. These three individuals will serve to display three prominent struggles stifling Christian commitment today. As we look at these three “commitment killers,” listen to each. Each scenario may apply to us in different seasons of life.

Yet, while we struggle at various times and in various ways with each of these “commitment killers,” there is likely one of them that stands out among the others as the most challenging for us. Identify which one it might be for you, and you’re already on your way to allowing God to help you overcome it.

The three commitment killers can be broken down into these three struggles: “Nice vs. Sacrifice,” “Divided vs. Devoted,” and “Past vs. Present.”

Nice vs. Sacrifice captures the first individual’s struggle. “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’  Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head’” (v.57-58). There was certainly an appeal to following Jesus. Miracles happened. Needs were met. Lives were changed. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something so positive? So this individual expressed his desire to join Jesus – sounded nice!

But Jesus didn’t just respond with an “OK – fall in line and let’s get after it!” No, by his response he communicated to the individual the need to count the cost of discipleship before making such a commitment. Even though foxes and birds have a place to call home, Jesus did not (v.58). And if Jesus himself did not then his disciples needed to be ready for that same type of lifestyle – one that would involve sacrifice. 

What a commitment killer! And one that has filtered out casual Christians from committed Christians for centuries! It’s a popular idea even today. Many jump into Christianity being drawn to everything that is nice about it. Belonging to a church can be a great way to find friends. It can be a nice place to hear a generally positive message or uplifting music. It might be a good place to turn when I’m in a bind and need something. Maybe it’s good for my kids. There are lots of nice things about a church.

But often the cost is not counted. When commitment means sacrifice, it loses its appeal. When we’re so overcommitted in so many other areas, Sunday morning is relegated to just one more commitment. When it church life cuts into other commitments, we don’t see it any longer as a place to eagerly serve and make a difference, but a place that demands more of my time and responsibilities. When things get messy and I am expected to forgive and reconcile instead of just forget and leave awhile, that’s more than we signed up for. Too often we just want nice without the sacrifice.

The second commitment killer is represented by the individual Jesus calls out to next. “He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But the man replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God’” (v.59-60). Divided vs. Devoted. This almost sounds downright cruel – how can Jesus say no to burying his father?!? He was illustrating the difference between being Divided and Devoted. The point Jesus was stressing was that commitment to him is not a both/and, but an only. If anything is allowed to precede one’s commitment to Christ, it’s a divided commitment. That is not the kind of dedication Jesus calls us to. 

It has been shown time and again that a significant shortcoming of multi-tasking is that it results in doing multiple things poorly. Yet, rather than focusing on doing one thing well, we still try to get away with getting multiple things done at once.

We even do this when it comes to our commitment to Jesus. We want Jesus… and the priorities that my worldly friends have. We want Jesus… and the material things I can’t live without. We want Jesus… and whatever else it might be, not realizing that Jesus and anything else means a divided heart. My heart wants what it is convinced is the best of both worlds. When we keep living that lie we don’t see that our commitment to Jesus is not devoted, but divided.

The third commitment killer, “Present vs. Past,” is illustrated by the final individual in these verses. “Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God’” (v. 61-62).

How we long for the things that were! We crave the good ‘ole days. We want things the way they were, leaving us stuck reminiscing on the past while missing out on the present and the future. That means we aren’t using the present and the future to plan, prepare, and carry out the ministry to which Jesus has called us!

How long do you think you could successfully drive your car from where you are to where you’re going with your eyes glued to the rearview mirror? I don’t encourage you to find out! Yet, we are satisfied with a commitment to Jesus that can’t get beyond the way things used to be. And then we fail to see how that stifles our present and future personal and congregational growth and ministry. 

Furthermore, if we insist on looking back into the past at the expense of the present, then let us also compare the commitment of generations past to current generations. Shall we compare the commitment to church attendance, when commitment meant attending every Sunday? Shall we compare commitment to keeping the church and school up and running by rolling up the sleeves and putting in some sweat equity rather than writing a check to pay someone else to do it? Shall we compare generations past when young people were encouraged to serve in the public ministry as pastors and teachers versus pursuing successful careers that make more money? 

These three individuals and their examples – “Nice vs. Sacrifice,” “Divided vs. Devoted,” and “Past vs. Present” – are not insignificant! They might shock us. We might be rather sympathetic toward the requests these individuals made. They were not just along the lines of, “May I return home and feed my pet?” No one would balk at Jesus refusing that less significant request.

But burying your dead or saying bye to family??? What is Jesus’ point? If these requests had been merely small things, and Jesus had permitted them, we would reason that there are some things that would understandably come before Jesus – for the right reason(s), of course! But Jesus goes big to make a big point: nothing comes before him. Commitment is a serious thing! 

Commitment has sometimes been broken down into three levels: commitment to Christ, then to his church, and finally to his cause. Where are you at on that spectrum? Wherever you may be, we’re all in the same spot: we have room to grow when it comes to our commitment to Jesus and his church. Assessing our level of commitment to Jesus can lead us to draw only one conclusion: our diluted commitment to Christ deserves condemnation from Christ. 

But instead of condemnation from Christ, do you know what we get? Complete commitment. We don’t have to question Jesus’ level of commitment to us. Jesus was perfectly committed. In fact, a word that Luke uses to introduce these verses reflects that very commitment: “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (v. 51).

“Resolutely” describes Jesus’ commitment to the destination where he would die. Jesus would not be deterred. Jesus counted the cost. His priorities were not divided. He was not longing for the good ‘ole days where suffering and death were not a part of the discussion. Jesus was fully committed… to you. He committed to being ridiculed and bullied for you. He committed to suffering excruciating punishment for you. He committed to dying for you. He committed to condemnation in hell for you. 

And his commitment is why you will never feel the lick of hell’s flames. His commitment is why you will never be abandoned by the Father. His commitment is why you can give it right back to Satan instead of giving in to him. His commitment is why your place in heaven is never in question, never in doubt. His commitment… is what makes it possible for us to deepen our commitment to him. To level up. To number our days on earth as days of committed service to Christ and his kingdom. 

Jesus’ commitment has made you fit for service in his kingdom. His Word possesses the power to take your commitment to new heights. Tap into the power of his Word daily. Choose sacrifice over nice. Choose dedicated over divided. Choose present and future over the past. What difference would it make if each one of us moved one level forward in our commitment? How healthy and vibrant would our congregations be? How impacted would our communities be? What could Jesus do with us, with a church filled with intensely committed Christians? I’d sure love to find out – wouldn’t you?