Sermon Cloud

Selfish or Self-less?

Genesis Christian Church * Sept 28, 08

• I. Introduction:

Who do you serve?  Self or others?

Selfish:

You're concerned for #1...

At work you are quick to criticize about what is not getting done... but you don't try to help correct the problem.

At church, you notice when something isn't quite right.  The coffee is not quite hot enough or you had to park further away than usual..  and you wonder who's fault it is...

You want to be noticed and instead you resent others who do well around you and get recognized.

You feel your spouse is hindering what you really could do in life because they don't help you like you feel they should.

It's funny how we can see obvious selfishness in our kids, but sometimes miss it when it's in our own life.

Self-less:

Look out for the interests of others before yours.  Your wife and kids come before your own wants and desires.

You're proactive at work and look to help solve the problems that you notice...

At church when you notice a need, instead of comlaining,  you pitch in and lend a hand.

You can honestly celebrate other people's successes and feel joy for those people, not jealousy.

We are going to see today what God says about serving.  We'll see a contrast between some folks who were wrapped up in themselves verses One who served others.

Read Mark 10:35-45.

II.Two points today: What are the reasons for serving? What are you going to do?

A. Jesus had earlier told his disciples that He was going to Jerusalem where He would be tortured and killed, but He would rise again after 3 days. He is explaining to them His purpose.

B. This is also a time in Jesus' ministry where He is spending more time with His disciples, training them and teaching them. They would continue His ministry once He leaves.

C. Jesus wants these guys to really grasp what He is doing. So He tells them of His death and resurrection and here's how they respond...

D. James and John- We want top spots in your kingdom, Jesus.

E. Their focus on themselves, desiring places of status, power, and privilege.

F. The reasons for service

The Cup

Jesus taught that there's a cup involved for these two wanting to be in powerful positions.  It's because of the cup that Jesus came to earth. 

The cup represented God's wrath, God's judgment.  Old Testament prophets spoke of the cup of God's wrath.  The cup of God's wrath makes men stagger (Is. 51). 

Jesus, when He later went to the cross, prayed to God that God would remove the cup from Him.  He knew the pain and suffering that lay ahead of him at the cross and made one last request to God.  He was so burdened by the mere thought of the cross that he sweated blood.  Your body has to be under tremendous stress to do this and Jesus' was.

Jesus took the cup of God's wrath for you and for me.  He did it in our place because He knew that He is the only perfect sacrifice acceptable to God the Father for your sin and mine.  Jesus took the cup in your place.  Jesus willingly took all your judgment and wrath from God in your place. 

If Jesus took God's judgment intended for you, then you are liberated to live your life in ways that honor HIM.  One, you don't have to earn God's mercy by what you do.  That in itself is freeing...

Two, you are freed up to live by what he has taught, following His example.

Ransom

...Is a price that is paid for your release.  We understand this.  In kidnapping cases, parents will do whatever it takes to get the money and pay for the release of their child. 

Jesus said that He gave His life as a ransom for many.  Why does anyone pay a ransom?  It's out of love.  Understand this... Jesus gave Himself as a ransom so that you might be set free, be liberated, be delivered from bondage.  This is why Jesus came to earth.  To ransom His life for your release.  That's love.  Can you truly grasp how much love is in this ransom?

So now, if you want to be great in the eyes of God, then your natural response will be to serve.  Why?  You are no longer under God's wrath.  In fact, you are in a close Father/child relationship.  And, He has given you release from bondage.  What better thing can you do now than to serve Him and others?  You're in a bondage of love and not being enslaved any longer to sin and death.

People have commented how restrictive being a Christian is.  Restrictive?  Let's talk restrictive...  If you are living for yourself, you have to work hard at it.  If you live for anything but Jesus, then it becomes an idol.  An idol is never satisfied.  It always wants more and it can really give you nothing in return.  This is so different from Jesus.  When His ransom is applied to your life you become a slave to Him.  A "doulos":  one who willing follows another and gives his life willing as a slave to Jesus.  Better to entrust your life to Jesus than to a career, a lover, an addiction, a desire: success, acceptance, significance, etc.

What about you?  Do you know the one who gave His life for your ransom?  Do you know the One who drank the cup of God's wrath so that you wouldn't have to?  You couldn't...  You would have been destroyed.  Jesus was destroyed in your place.  Now if you believe in Him, trust in Jesus, then you experience freedom and a changed life that is motivated now to serve.

Power: Serving is often so foreign to our thinking because we live in a culture impressed with power.  The power of athletics, intellectualism, military force, even church politics is appealing and tempting for us.  Jesus didn't come to get involved with power plays.  His approach was quite the opposite.... He would give by serving and finally giving 100% of himself for you on the cross.

Will you be under appreciated?  Yes.  I get no thanks.  Will your service be overlooked? Yes.  Who are you serving?  For the applause of people or the applause of God?  Will you be a door mat?  Yes.  But, if Jesus so transforms your life, then the motivation for serving will outweigh all the rest?

Who wanted and wanted from Jesus?  Many.  Who were needy?  Several.  Who were able to pay him back?  None.  The more we grasp what Jesus did, the more we can serve.

Homeless, distressed, hard to love, Extra grace required (EGR).  You and I can serve because Jesus served us with wholehearted love and sacrifice.

III. Look again at James and John and the 10 in the Scripture we read. They were self absorbed. The two wanted the two top spots in Jesus' Kingdom. The other 10 disciples were angry ("indignation") and the 2 were selfish and quick about it. They all were looking out for self interest.

A. They are a great picture of us. We want and we desire what we think is best for us.

B. Selfishness is ultimately bankrupt: leads to God's wrath; bondage to sin and death; and a life that's consumed by petty little desires.

C. You were made for something more. Let Jesus set you free to serve.

D. Some specifics:

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  • How will you serve others in your community?
  • How will you serve here at church (there are many things in which you could help out)? (we need participants, not just spectators...)
  • How will you serve those in your family?
  • How will you serve those with whom you work?