CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF
LUKE 9:46-62
INTRODUCTION (www.southwest.com)
Herbert Keller, the former CEO of Soutwest Airlines once said: “When we select employees, we consider attitude more important than degrees and know-how. We use no psychological or aptitude testing. We don’t care much about education and experience, because we can train people to do whatever they have to do. We hire attitudes.” Now I don’t know if that is still true, but Gary Kelly, the current CEO says: “Our people are our single greatest strength and most enduring long-term competitive advantage.” Now there is a company that has a good attitude about their business and focuses on attitude and is certainly one of the better airlines to fly with. “An attitude is made up of thought, feeling, and a predisposition to act upon that thought and feeling” (Meier & Minirth 1982, pg 163). Attitude can make all the difference in the world. A bad attitude reduces one’s effectiveness and dampens the spirit of others. In fact, it is often hard to see sometimes how a bad attitude deeply affects those around you. Attitudes are central in our lives. You have heard all the old quotes from authors, leaders, and poets that tell us that attitude is of central importance in life. Your attitude can change a situation or can wreck it.
Today we are going to talk all about attitude. The word attitude is one that is only used 8 times in the whole Bible… 5 times in the Old Testament and 3 times in the New Testament:
Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Philippians 2:3-8 teaches us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!”
1 Peter 4:1-2 records for us, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
We will definitely come back to those passages today, but the base of our conversation about attitude is a passage in the Gospel of Luke. Luke 9:46-62 is a passage that covers several days and events in Jesus’ life, but they are all happenings that seem to have a theme that addresses attitudes in several different ways. Every few verses at the end of chapter 9 address some new attitude. So be ready to check your attitudes today. The phrase floating out there in pop-culture today comes from a rap song and then a movie, “Check Yo Self Before You Wreck Yo Self.” So that is what we are going to do today. We are going to check ourselves before our attitudes wreck us and cause us problems. Let’s commit ourselves to living wisely and check ourselves. Let’s look at Luke 9.
I. ATTITUDE CHECK: PRIDE
Luke 9:46-48
An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all-- he is the greatest."
I want you to realize what the disciples had witnessed in the few days and weeks before this passage happened. They had witnessed Jairus’ daughter raised to life and a woman healed of her bleeding (Luke 8). They had seen demons driven away (Luke 9). They had seen Jesus feed 5,000 people with one lunch (Luke 9). Three of them had seen the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9). The argument may have been spurred on by the fact that only Peter, James, and John had witnessed Jesus on the mountain and now the story was being told. All of the disciples knew they were part of something big and were witnessing history in the making.
No one healed like Jesus (Matthew 4:24).
No one taught like Jesus (Matthew 7:28-29).
No one spoke like Jesus (John 7:46).
And when you are in the midst of great things or doing something that is significant, there is a three letter word that leads to a five letter word that often derails what people try to do. Ego leads to pride. That is attitude. You see the disciples started to argue which of them would be the greatest follower of Jesus (verse 46). Seriously? That is what you guys are going to talk about? Jesus takes this opportunity to teach the disciples about the kind of followers He is actually seeking.
A child becomes His object lesson. The defining principle of Jesus’ Kingdom is that the least is the greatest. Greatness in God’s eyes has nothing to do with position or title. Greatness in God’s eyes has nothing to do with ability or power. Greatness has to do with humbleness and service: a humble attitude and a servant’s heart. Remember Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” That is the attitude that Jesus asks us to have if we follow Him. We are to fight our pride with a servant’s heart.
APPLICATION: So Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Does your pride prevent you from tithing or serving or teaching or helping others?
Does your pride prevent you from asking forgiveness or giving it?
Does your pride prevent you from asking questions and growing as a Christian?
Are you serving in God’s Church with humbleness?
Do you do things so that people will see you and notice you and give you thanks?
Do you have an attitude of self-service rather than other-service?
So Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself. I hope you see from Jesus bringing the little child among the disciples that His way of life for us involves humble service which fights against our ego and pride and self. That is why earlier in Luke 9 when Peter confesses who Jesus is Jesus’ response is “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). That verse is all about pride and service towards God. Think about it.
II. ATTITUDE CHECK: RELIGIOUS SEPARATION
Luke 9:49-50
"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." 50 "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
These verses describe something very strange and something quite dangerous. Someone the disciples did not know was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. You see Jesus’ name is quite powerful. We don’t know who this person is or where they come from or how they knew about Jesus... and as I said, neither did the disciples. I consider this something dangerous because of a similar event that happened later in the book of Acts. Acts 19:13-16 records, “Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” That is both funny and scary at the same time.
Verse 49 tells us that John did not know this guy and was becoming offended because he was doing what they were doing. Maybe he felt a tinge of a competitive spirit. People were being healed of demons, but because the man was not part of them he wanted it stopped. Jesus responds to John with encouraging words and words of unity.
We face this same kind of attitude in churches today, but at our church I believe we are fighting hard against it. Let me explain what I mean. At Christmas we partnered with Peninsular Christian Church and Manhattan Baptist Church for a Christmas program. Several of us are involved with Upwards sports at First Baptist Church downtown and we are looking to maybe expand that program here in the near future. I have been to a homeless ministry meeting at Christ the King Catholic church. I know that John meets weekly with other ministers one of whom comes from a Lutheran church. I just mentioned 5 different types of churches all working together or fellowshipping together and I’m sure there are other examples I have forgotten. Even though divisions have crept up in the big “C” Church over time, we can still work together.
One of the things I would like to see us do in the future is partner with all 6 or 7 churches here on South Manhattan in a combined effort for our community. We need to put away the attitude that “they aren’t one of us” (verse 49). Restoration Movement churches were found on several principles one of which is “We aren’t the only Christians, but we are Christians only.” Now we of course need to be careful who we partner with and who we are yoked with in working for the Lord and how we do it, but if they are a Bible believing and Holy Spirit filled congregation, then we need to build bridges and not tear them down. Remember Ephesians 4:24 says, “to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
APPLICATION: So Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Do you know what and why you believe what you do so you can befriend others of like belief?
Are you harsh with people who don’t believe exactly like you?
Do you have the tendency to think you are superior to others who believe differently than you?
Do you seek to understand others and be understood by those you share your faith with?
I hope you see in our church the willingness to work with other believers. I hope you see even more efforts in our near future where we partner with other congregations in the Body of Christ for no other reason than to reach people for Jesus Christ and to bring God Glory!
III. ATTITUDE CHECK: OBTUSENESS
Luke 9:51-56
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village.
As I read this passage, I thought of several attitudes that this passage expresses. It expresses racial hatred on the part of the Samaritan people towards Jewish Jesus. It expresses judgmental attitudes on the part of James and John. It expresses a “God go smite them” on James and John’s part as well. It expresses impatience and bad gut reactions. It expresses a lack of care. All of these different attitudes need some kind of umbrella term. I found the perfect word when I remembered a line from a movie.
ILLUSTRATION… Shawshank Redemption (answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110224213301AAq)
In Stephen King's short story, "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption," and in Frank Darabont's screenplay for the film "The Shawshank Redemption" a very interesting word is used. The setting is Warden Norton's office. Andy Dufresne has told Warden Norton, for whom he is doing the "bookkeeping" about the possibility that the identity of the killer of Dufresne's wife and her lover, the murders for which Andy has been convicted and sent to Shawshank Prison, may be known by a current inmate. Andy desperately wants the Warden to have the records of the man identified checked in order for authorities to locate him. The Warden neither wants Andy to be free nor believes that a record check would reveal anything of interest.
In the midst of the discussion about the issues at hand, Andy Dufresne says, “They'd have his last known address. Names of relatives... Well it's a chance. isn't it? How can you be so OBTUSE? Warden Norton questions immediately, “What? What did you call me?"
When I look at that word “obtuse” it just seems to fit this passage even though I think the actual defition of the word is a little off. Anyhow, I like using that word to describe the Samaritans… they had been obtuse with Jesus. James and John had an obtuse reaction when they were impatient, angry, judgmental, quick to act, intolerant, and unforgiving all rolled into one. Jesus had already addressed attitudes of obtuseness when He taught the disciples and the crowds in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:43-47 tells us, “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
Jesus was attempting to teach His disciples in Matthew 5 that it does matter how we react to one another. It does matter what kind of neighbor, friend, father, mother, or child we are. How we react to one another tells a lot about our hearts. The Samaritans had rejected Jesus and in that rejection, James and John were offended for Jesus and wanted God to lay down an Old Testament Sodom and Gomorrah smiting upon them! Their immediate gut reaction was retribution and total obtuseness.
Jesus rebuked the disciples and simply went somewhere else.
Jesus reacted with patience.
Jesus reacted with love.
Jesus reacted patient tolerance and chose His battles.
Jesus reacted with love.
Jesus chose to react in love every time someone slighted Him. Jesus chose to act with patience amongst people who did not deserve it. Of all of the attitudes this morning, obtuseness to me seems the most difficult and this is the attitude that I need to work on the most in my own life. When someone is mad at me, I get mad back. When someone yells at me, I yell back. I do not always react with love. I can be obtuse. I would certainly call down fire from heaven to smite the Samaritans and not think anything about it. But you see that is not the way of the Master. That is not the way of OUR Master. His way is love for those who hate. His way is kindness for those who are unkind. His way is just simply moving on and giving grace where it is not due. His way is choosing His battles. His way is wise words in the midst of harshness and being judged. His way is undeserved forgiveness.
Remember, 1 Peter 4:1-2 records for us, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
APPLICATION: So Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself… Or maybe I should say, Check Myself before I Wreck Myself
How do you react when people slight you or offend you?
Is your gut reaction to yell back, be angry back, or cut them out of your life?
Do you respond with love to anger and judgmental attitudes?
How do you drive in traffic and does it reflect your Master?
Are you slow to get angry and quick to forgive?
IV. ATTITUDE CHECK: PRIORITIES
Luke 9:57-62
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
It occurs to me as I read this part of Luke 9 that Jesus was probably often approached about being one of His followers. The application for being one of His disciples was probably a long list. Remember that John the Baptist, the first prophet in 400 years in Israel, had pointed Him out in the desert and Jesus was becoming more and more well known (John 1:29; John 4:1). Jesus was doing amazing things. Jesus was not teaching like any other rabbi. People came to Him to be a disciple, but they had bad priorities. Verse 51 reminds us that Jesus was thinking about His suffering and death in Jerusalem and being one of His followers would become more and more dangerous. The demands of discipleship must be made clear.
One man comes to Jesus to be a disciple, but Jesus tells him that being a disciple is not on our terms, but comes on Jesus terms and at Jesus’ price (verse 58). Another man comes and Jesus tells him that being a disciple is something for now and not for later (verse 60). Still another person comes and Jesus tells him that being a disciple means undivided allegiance and effort (verse 62).
Make no mistake about it folks; Jesus Christ takes a back seat to no one or no thing. Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:14, Joshua 24:19, Nahum 1:2 and other passages tell us that our God is a jealous God who demands first place in our lives. A true believer in Jesus Christ makes Jesus the priority in all aspects of life. In Luke 6:46 Jesus asks us, “Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” 1 John 2:3-6 tells us plainly, “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
What does this mean?
It means if you call yourself a Christian… act like it.
It means if you call yourself a Christian… vote like it.
It means if you call yourself a Christian… sound like it.
It means if you claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He is that Monday through Sunday, not only on Sunday.
It means that you cannot put off talking about your faith until you are older or know more or feel comfortable or until people ask you… you do it now.
It means that you put your money where your faith is and you tithe in church on a regular basis.
It means you go on a short-term mission trip.
It means you don’t just come to church and sit in the pew, but you engage and use your energy and effort for God in volunteering somewhere here in the church.
It means you actively read the Bible and attend Sunday School or go to a home Bible study.
It means you change the books you read, the websites you visit, the music you buy, the length of your skirt and the tightness of your shirt, the amount of alcohol you drink, the magazines you stick under your mattress, and the TV shows you watch to those that reflect Jesus Christ accurately.
And if you don’t want to do any of that, you are just playing at being a Christian and you ought to be scared when you die. How can I say any of that? That’s awfully harsh and obtuse of you! It’s meant to be… I need to get your attention and keep your attention so you don’t miss this Absolute Truth!
James 2:14-26 says, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
APPLICATION: So Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Is Jesus the priority in your life?
That is pretty much the only question isn’t it? You see it is really this attitude which will start the domino effect in the rest of your life. If Jesus is the priority, then everything else in your life comes under His authority and His will.
Is Jesus the priority in your life?
in all places?
at all times?
with all people?
in all that you say?
in all that you do?
in how you act?
in how you feel?
in how you spend your time?
in how you treat your money?
CONCLUSION
