February 28, 2010

Dr. Ron Sumners

BUT NOT VERY MUCH

Luke 18:1-8

A little boy was looking forward with great anticipation to the annual birthday gift from his favorite aunt. She always had a way of picking out a toy which brought him a great deal of pleasure. Apparently, she had decided her nephew was old enough to start receiving clothing instead of toys, because she sent him a sweater. The little boy sat down dutifully and wrote his “thank-you” note: “Dear Aunt Jane, Thank-you for the sweater. It is what I have always wanted, but not very much. Love, Johnny.”

In that refreshingly honest response to a birthday gift, we find the problem with most people’s response to God, including our own. We want God. We really do! That, among other things, is what brought us here today. We want God, but not very much! There are many things in our life that are more exciting. We get more excited over a big football game, or the World Series, or a pay raise, or the interest rates, or the latest political scandal, than we do over the things of God. We get caught up in all the things that are a part of life and they come before God, Who is life!

In the Book of Revelation, the Lord describes this attitude of lukewarm indifference as the worst possible state that we could be in. He says, “I know your deeds; I know you are neither hot nor cold. How I wish you were one or the other. But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15) The person, who wants God, but not very much, makes God sick.

Our fulfillment depends upon a high degree of enthusiasm for God; a deep passionate longing for God.

Rudyard Kipling, the great author, was muttering deliriously on his deathbed, obviously making some last request. Those in attendance could not understand what it was he was struggling so hard to say until one of the nurses leaned over and said, “Mr. Kipling, what is it that you want?” Kipling stopped tossing for a moment and replied with the last bit of strength that he could muster, “I want God!” That is what Jesus is talking about: wanting God the way a dying man wants Him. This is not some intellectual exercise. We are talking about our whole beings caught up in a consuming hunger and thirst for God and His goodness.

Whatever is necessary to acquire a real hunger and thirst for God and His goodness is worth the price. If it means changing your job; you do it. If it means radically changing a family relationship; you do it. If it means adopting a new way of seeing yourself and others; you do it. If it means putting a destructive habit out of your life; you do it. If it means giving more of your time to prayer and Bible study; you do it. Whatever you have to do is a small price to pay for a real hunger for God.

There is a second level on which we yearn to be at one with God. On this level we yearn for others to know God’s goodness. We hunger for the fulfillment of others just as intensely as for our own. On one occasion Jesus came to His home synagogue and began to preach God’s goodness in exactly those terms. Quoting the prophet Isaiah, he said to the congregation, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release the prisoners.” (Luke 4:18)

When the people heard Jesus describe His ministry in terms of service, not only to them but to others, even outsiders and enemies, they tried to throw Him off a cliff. They were so outraged, they wanted to kill Him. Eventually they succeeded! But even to death, Jesus continued to identify with the Gracious God who’s blessed Kingdom for peace and justice and mercy was at hand and would be brought to fulfillment. Day and night Jesus taught His followers to long for and to work for the coming Kingdom. “Wanting God” is not just another item to try to fit into your busy schedule. “Wanting God” is a process, a way of life; an ongoing hunger and thirst.

In the parable of the corrupt judge, Jesus tells the story of a poor widow who sought justice for herself but couldn’t find it. But she would not be denied. Her hunger and thirst for justice gave her the strength to fight the system and, finally, she won her case. Jesus brings the message home in these words, “Will not God do justice to His chosen who call out to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you He will give them swift justice.” (Luke 18:7-8) God’s healing presence is realized immediately by those who call out to Him day and night, those who want Him very much.

There is a story of a man in search of God that illustrates this beautifully. It seems the man had gone from one religious group to another without success. Finally, he consulted with a wise, old monk who lived a very austere life on the river bank. “Show me how to discover God!” the man pleaded. “I will introduce you to two friends of mine who will help”, said the monk. The monk’s two friends took the man to the river and led him out into the water. The two men held him down, keeping his head under the water. Because the man trusted the old monk, he went along for a moment. But soon he began to struggle violently. They held him under until the last possible moment, and then they let him up, sputtering and gasping. When the man had regained his composure, the old teacher said to him, “Tell me, what did you think about when you felt you were drowning?” The man replied, “I thought about air.” The old monk said, “This is what you have yet to learn: when you want God the way a drowning man wants air, then you will find Him. He is as near as the air. All we have to do is want Him!”

Some people who want God, but not very much, say, “I am a good person but I just can’t live up to what God wants me to be.” Those people don’t understand that God never gives us a task without giving us the strength to do it. He never gives us a goal without the strength to achieve it. He wants us to live life a certain way and He is present with us to make it possible. He not only gives us a task and a goal; He gives us Himself. The problem is that when we receive the gift of God, Himself, we say, “Thank-you God, for the gift of your presence. It is what I have always wanted; but not very much.” The power and the strength to be the person God made you to be, belongs only to those who desire the gift, very much, without the strength to achieve it. He wants us to live life a certain way and He is present with us to make it possible. He not only gives us a task and a goal; He gives us Himself. The problem is that when we receive the gift of God, Himself, we say, “Thank-you God, for the gift of your presence. It is what I have always wanted; but not very much.” The power and the strength to be the person God made you to be, belongs only to those who desire the gift, very, very much!