2/25/2007 message by Fred Goldschmidt
Living the Christian life requires us to learn how to deal with new enemies.
We have been learning about what you can count on as a follower of Jesus—what is certain and sure. These are foundations that won't move or shake.
Jesus laid out some famous "sure things" in what we call the Beatitudes—the Sermon on the Mount
As Jesus went about healing and preaching, he noticed a crowd following. This seemed as good a time as any to lay out some creative, descriptive phrases of those who were part of God's kingdom.
These were ground rules for being a believer unlike any other. They included ground-breaking new directives such as promising blessings to those who...
- Are poor in spirit—they would be blessed with the kingdom of heaven.
- Morn—they would be blessed by being comforted.
- Are gentle—they would be blessed by inheriting the earth.
- Hunger and thirst for righteousness—they would be blessed by being made full.
- Are merciful—they would be blessed by receiving mercy.
- Are pure in heart—they would be blessed by seeing God.
- Are peacemakers—they would be blessed by being called the sons of God.
- Are persecuted—they would be blessed with the kingdom of heaven.
- Are insulted and persecuted—they would be blessed with gladness and eternal reward.
Jesus goes on to say things like:
- You are the salt of the earth.
- You are the light of the world.
- Don't call people names.
- Turn the other cheek.
- Don't make empty vows.
- Give to people who ask.
- Love people who don't love you back.
The shock to so many people is when they discover that living life like Jesus—doing the Beatitudes, being gentle and kind, turning the other cheek—is that they will still have troubles in this life. They will still have problems with their relationships. People still may not like them.
"I'm straightening out my life," they'll say. "I'm doing things the right way, and now people take advantage of me."
A husband may become more like Jesus, and his wife still serves him divorce papers, asking for the house, a large alimony, and the kids.
Someone can be more like Jesus at work, only to have others walk all over her.
You can believe that the world will be more peaceful and gentle with you if you live the Beatitudes, the words of Jesus, but you would be mistaken.
You can live the beatitudes. You can bear every fruit of the Spirit. You can use all the gifts of the Spirit. You can wear the armor of God and wield the weapons of Christian warfare. You can pray the prayer of Jabez and do what Jesus would do...and there will still be people in your life who will take advantage of you, call you names, abuse you, hurt you, cheat on you, persecute you, hate you, and unfairly accuse you.
Living as Jesus tells us to live won't stop people from checking you into the boards in the hockey game of life!
This chapter contains not only the Beatitudes, but also a lengthy discussion on what to do when people don't like you. Jesus laid out several values, several strategies, and a little bit of hope:
BEATITUDE VALUES
1. Your relationships are more important than your religion. God cares more that your relationships are clear and true than for your offerings of money, praise, or service.
Matthew 5:23-24 (NASB77) - "If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Can you imagine what would happen if Christians actually lived up to this command?
Either we would either go broke as a church, or there would be no broken relationships in the church.
People paint God and his church as money grabbing empire, but God cares more about people than offerings.
God places little restrictions on how much you give—but big restrictions on the way you give:
- We are to give cheerfully, not grudgingly or under compulsion.
- We are to give liberally, abundantly.
- We are to give to our relationships before we give our church offerings.
In this picture you might have a person living out the beatitudes who is poor in heart and spirit, gentle, mournful, merciful, hungering for God—and people are still angry and offended with him or her.
In such cases, Jesus says you should go to them as a first priority of faith. This does not mean that you can fix every problem or make everyone love you or remove the faults between you. But it does mean that you should consider clear relationships as a high priority of faith.
The qualification the Bible places on your part is to do what you can. Romans 12:18 says: "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
2. Peace is created, not just kept.
Matthew 5:9 (NASB77) - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Most people think in terms of peace keeping. But Jesus values peace making. Most people find ways to live in peace by avoiding the people that disturb them. But God says to go and make peace where there is no peace.
Ephesians 2:13-15 (NASB77) - "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace."
Ephesians 6:15 (NASB77) - "and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace."
Even as you wear the armor and wield the sword, your goal is the creation of peace in a chaotic world. Is it any surprise that peacemakers will be called sons of God? You look like God when you create peace. You look like his offspring. You bear his image when you create peace where no peace would otherwise exist.
3. Your witness is more important than pride and wealth.
Matthew 5:38-42 (NASB77) - "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you."
While most of the world is focused on individual rights (human rights, the Bill of Rights, civil rights, privacy rights), God is more interested in your witness to the world.
To this extent, he invites his followers to give where they owe nothing. God wants us to share with those who will not share back—to allow yourself to be "used" to some extent.
Jesus said that to give, share or serve those who will return the favor, is no different than what the heathen will do
Your pride comes from being a child of the King. Not because you're better than your neighbors. Your wealth and resources come from God, not from what you hoard. People around you get pride from their accomplishments—they get wealth from work.
But they only get a better picture of Jesus from the way you treat them.
4. The easy way is not always God's way.
Matthew 5:31-32 (NASB77) - "And it was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the cause of unchastity, makes her commit adultery"
Matthew 5:33-37 (NASB77) - "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.' But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes' or ‘No, no'; and anything beyond these is of evil."
The world gives you an easy out to your problems, and allows commitments to dissolve like a snowman in the summer sun.
Proverbs 3:27-28 (NASB77) - "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it, when you have it with you.'"
Jesus says make no vow you do not intend to keep. Rather than make promises, get your hands dirty; put action to your beliefs.
Jesus said there is a wide, easy road that leads to destruction. He said the path to life is narrow. It is sometimes hard and there are no easy outs.
For God so loved the world that he did not give up or quit in Gethsemane. He did not call 10,000 angles to cover for him. He did not take anesthesia when they pounded nails into his hands. He took the hard way!
The easy way is not always Gods way!
BEATITUDE STRATEGIES
1. Initiate resolution. Go to your brother! (Matt 5:24) Jesus saw the world in trouble and he came.
Romans 5:8 (NASB77) - "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
You cannot fix other people's problems. You can't make them behave. But you can be the one who breaks the ice and offers forgiveness. You can be the one who apologizes sincerely and hopes for a proper response.
Go to your brother. Go into all the world and make disciples.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NASB77) - "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
2. Back up your words with action. Don't just make promises; act out your faith.
James makes this ultimatum: "Show me your faith without works, I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18)
Do everything right and there will still be people who cause you trouble. But you can show them your faith. You can give, turn, share, forgive, love, share.
3. Demonstrate love.
Matthew 5:44 (NASB77) - "...love your neighbor, love your enemy."
Signs have sprung up all over Australia that read : Jesus Loves Osama. Despite the rude awakening, the sign carries truth. And if Jesus can love someone like Osama—or someone as bad as me, you can love the enemies in your household or the people in your office.