Sensitive Things & Big Reactions (Luke 18:18-27)
Luke 18:18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’” 21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
Luke 14:28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
The Cost of Following Jesus Means: Sacrifice, Standing Out, and Selflessness
Jesus makes it clear that this is demanding. It’s not easy.
Sacrifice by definition is costly.
Standing out is uncomfortable and it’s not fun.
Selfishness is our default and so relearning that is difficult.
Counting the cost of what it means to follow Jesus can provoke a strong emotional response.
Don’t let that cause you to walk away.
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
If You Believe That Jesus Is Who He Says He Is,
The Only Logical Response Is To Follow Him With Everything.
Luke 14 - The parable is about people who turned down the invitation to a wedding feast and shows that people reject Jesus' invitation because they care more about other things. People reject Jesus because they care about things that have no eternal value. Their response to othe cost of following Jesus often provokes strong emotions.
If you have a strong response to what the Bible teaches,
it’s better to have a strong response, stick with Jesus and wrestle through it than to walk away.
In recent years, there have been three most common reasons that people have had a strong reaction to Jesus and walk away.
1. SEX
Even though it’s considered old fashioned and unrealistic, we maintain that the expression of sex that is encouraged and designed as a gift from God in the Bible is between a man and a woman that have made a monogamous, life-long commitment in marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.
This is too often the reason that people have a strong reaction and reject Jesus. It’s a call to selflessness, to deny yourself and your sexual desires to protect your marriage. It’s difficult, but it is not the reason to walk away from Jesus.
2. SEXUALITY
Same-sex attraction. This is complicated. Every story is unique. This topic is emotionally charged. No more matter how difficult this may be to wrestle through and how upsetting this may be, walking away is not the answer.
3. GENDER IDENTITY
This topic takes up so much of the cultural conversation. People are pursuing transgenderism because they’re hurting for a whole variety of reasons. And they believe that taking on a new identity and presenting as another gender, or however its expressed, will help.
The church can not be about winning an argument, but about asking people who would otherwise walk away to stay. This is an opportunity for the church to step up and say:
God is for you, not against you.
He loves you. The proof He loves you was on the cross.
The invitation to follow Him is opened to you.
The Cost of Following Jesus Means: Sacrifice, Standing Out, and Selflessness
It’s difficult, but he cost is worth it. The sacrifices, standing out, being selfless is a big demand, but everything that God has asked us to do, He has promised to do with us.
What do you do if something from this message affects you directly?
Don’t forget that God loves you and you belong here
Decide that even if you're emotionally charged because of something the Bible teaches, don’t walk away. Stick with Jesus and wrestle this out.
What we’re asking people to do is to trust God above their own feelings, their own logic, their own experience, the voice of popular culture. To trust God may mean trusting Him above people who love and care for them. It’s not a small thing.
Though these things may be difficult to talk about and provoke all kinds of emotions,
the answer is not to walk away.
1 Corinthians 6:9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The love that God has for me completely changes my priorities and what I care about. It brings this scripture to life…
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
This takes trust.
Luke 18:23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. 24 When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” 27 He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
Luke 19:6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
What a contrast…
Zaccheus found his place - at the table with Jesus
The rich young ruler left alone and disconnected
If You Believe That Jesus Is Who He Says He Is,
The Only Logical Response Is To Follow Him With Everything.
Trust that sticking with Jesus is worth it.
Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”