We just finished a sermon series called Too Much: Living with Less in the Land of More. It is inspired by the book written by Dr. Gary Johnson, long time Lead Servant of The Creek, a book about making Jesus the Lord of our finances…and approaching our lives in a way that avoids the myth of more…a life that mirrors the humility, generosity, sacrifice, and love of Jesus.
One of the most troubling things about ministry is watching people who have tremendous potential to be amazing Kingdom workers just go through the motions. I think we all…myself included need to examine our hearts daily to determine if we are going through the motions enjoying the gift of salvation without the dying to self part…making Jesus first, others second, ourselves last. The picking up our cross daily and following Him part.
There are many who seek the salvation of Jesus who don’t want anything to do with Lordship of Christ. I’m not just talking about finances. I’m talking about wanting the gift without the surrender. Trying to have a foot in both worlds will only end with grief. Jesus never said we had to give up the things of this world that are good…and created for our pleasure and enjoyment…he just said we have to seek Him first…meaning we have to make Him Lord.
I encourage you to take a moment as we head into the season of MORE to read Matthew chapter 6. The entire chapter…part of Jesus Sermon on the Mount…is about making Jesus Lord. Here are some of the most important verses from the chapter…
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Before there was a Black Friday, Turkey Thursday, Wonderful Wednesday, Terrific Tuesday, and Marvelous Monday – yes according to the Amazon commercials…one day of deals was not enough…now we have a whole week! Before any of these temptations of MORE existed, Jesus taught us that the myth of more was just that…a myth…more will not satisfy you. It will not make you happy. It will not fulfill you. It will not fill the Jesus shaped hole in your soul.
Depression, anxiety, suicide are all out of control, people are seeking things to remove these feelings and hopelessness…Folks they never will. God created us to have that desire and desperate need to find fulfillment. That fulfillment comes from letting Jesus be the LORD and savior of your life.
I share this with you not to scold…not to judge…not to hate…but to remove the hopelessness and replace with HOPE. To remove the depression and anxiety and replace it with peace. To remove the darkness and replace it with light.
If you want something different…I am here – and ready to listen, and help you find the ONE you are missing.  God bless you and keep you, may He cause His light to shine upon you, and grant you peace!