Making The Most Of Today

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Making The Most Of Today

Contributed by Rick Horton on Sep 11, 2001 (message contributor)

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Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Summary: Deciding to live today for Jesus.

A Tale of Living

Making the most of today

Matthew 25:14-30

One thing about life that really seems to puzzle me is how much time and energy go into getting ready to live. Look at even the events of the last few days. An all-out effort to make sure that this Christmas would be something special, but was it enough? Today thousands are going to hit the malls and strip malls across the country in search of that ‘great deal’ because that is the one thing will make life what it was meant to be. This idea goes way beyond the holiday season. Think about it. We attend just enough school to get us into the right job so we can make just enough money so we can really start to live. We work said number of hours every week so enough funds continue to come in making it possible to afford the type of comfortable housing we need or the right car to drive so we can live. We constantly fill our lives with more and more things or more and more activities to make living a possibility. Then we add a few more hours to our workweek in order to make a little more money so we can get that other house in the mountains or at the beach. We fill that home with more and more stuff and when we finally get finished we know we’ll be able to settle down and really live. Is it just a vicious cycle where no one seems to really win? This pattern is all too popular and the whole chance at living becomes less and less the focus.

In my life it looks a lot like my home projects. No sooner do I finish one (if you can call it finished) and I feel the need to get started on another one, because then, once that next project is complete, I’ll be able to sit back, relax and really start to live. (Story:) A wealthy businessman was disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily by his boat. "Why aren’t you out there fishing?" he asked.

"Because I’ve caught enough fish for today," said the guy.

"Why don’t you catch more fish than you need?" asked the businessman.

"What would I do with them?"

"You could earn more money, and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. Then you could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you’d have a fleet of boats and be rich like me."

The guy asked, "Then what would I do?"

"You could sit down and really enjoy life."

The fisherman paused for a moment looking out over the water then replied, "What do you think I’m doing now?"

Living appears to be an all-illusive dream. A dream everyone is working toward but also a dream everyone is waiting for. Ponder for a minute the final days of this millennium and the almost ‘hold your breath’ mentality that so many have. The waiting game has started so ‘cross your fingers and hope for the best.’ Truth is this game is not just about whether or not the world is going to fall apart. This kind of thinking has arrested the lives of so many when it comes to the whole idea of living. "When I get this done, then I’ll enjoy life." "Just a few more years and I’ll be set financially, then I’ll really be able to live." "If I could just get done with school." "Oh, when I find that right person, my life will be complete." Or "when I get rid of this wrong person then my life will be complete." I think it’s a diversion tactic used to keep us off the true problem. You see we get so focused on just the symptoms, rarely being honest enough with ourselves to look at the truth.

During the late 70’s & early 80’s most of society had a problem with seeing the truth. The truth that I’m speaking of is the difficulty we all had with fashion. Why in the world did we think we could leave our homes looking like we did? Someone should have passed a law putting most of us on house arrest, thus sparing our children the kind of embarrassment that could severely hinder their development. Now, if you’re one who is still in denial about those years I want you to take a look at a few pictures I dug up this week of people you will definitely recognize. Then ask yourself if that person was a little unclear about how they looked. (Pictures) Sometimes the truth is the most difficult thing to see. When it comes to our lives and the experience of living, for the most part we struggle with the truth. Our ideas on what makes life really life, lead us away from the truth, leaving us to wrestle with a temporary fix to a lifelong need. I would dare to say that for all of us we desire, down in our gut, to live the kind of lives that could only be defined by the word ‘great.’ We don’t want to settle for ‘ok’ or even ‘good.’ We truly want our lives to matter, where significance and meaning spring up from the inside with no coercion. We want to know that who we are is making a difference and right in the middle of all of it we want to sense that every moment is real and fun. When living gets broken down into words like these there comes with it an almost singular vision. A vision that grows in the heart of every man, woman, girl and boy. A vision for living life completely undistracted with an inner resolve to make the most of every moment. Yet, in all the grandeur of this youthful idealism, week follows week, month follows month and this desire looses ground to an old, more common, way of existing.

Listen for a minute to how Jesus paints the picture of this kind of dilemma. (Scripture reading: Matthew 25:14-30)

Consistent with his way of addressing life struggles, Jesus tells a story to remind those who were really listening that life itself is a gift to be treasured. No matter how you go about breaking it down, looking at each part individually, the point is still, all of life is a treasure. Because this treasure was being taken for granted by too many, Jesus challenged people to rethink what they were doing with what it was they had been given. He spoke about a life principle that quickly cut through the junk, and dealt with how an approach to life can affect the way one lives. As I look at this story, one overriding lesson that seems to jump out at me is this:

Living is about what we do with today.

One thing we can be certain of is that this philosophy is not limited solely this passage. Throughout what is recorded of the teachings of Jesus, we can notice a concise effort on his part to communicate this plan for living to every person he came in contact with. You see it here in the hillside chat he had with thousands at the start of his ministry. He clearly said:

"So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time." Matthew 6:34 LB

Time and time again this truth was reiterated and the response from those who listened was often favorable. Some walked away changed forever. Issues with self, others and God all settled in such a way that life was no longer a chore but a privilege. There were some, however, that choose their old way of living over the way Jesus was describing and the result was ‘business a usual.’

As we take a little time today to examine this story Jesus told, let me remind you this, where we sit is one of the safest places I know that we can be honest ourselves. Honest enough to ask some of the hard questions, and honest enough to admit the truth. Not about your fashion sense, but about how your life is going. And you can be sure this, we won’t make fun of you, unless you happen to end up on staff someday.

Now, according to Matthew, Jesus and some of his closest friends had just left the temple. As they were leaving one of the guys pointed out the building on the temple grounds and that led into a long discussion over the next few hours about the end of the world. Then right before Jesus wraps up this discussion he tells the story we just heard. I thought this would be an interesting side note for us today as we are staring into the birth of a new century. And I thought it to be pretty interesting where this story is placed. It almost seems to be a reminder that the end is not the focus, rather how we live to the end. So with this in mind, let’s look at a few of the lessons this tale teaches us.

One thing this tale tells us is this:

A true picture of God births initiative.

A faulty picture of God births fear.

"Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make now allowances for error."

Matthew 25:24 MES

There is something in the words of this 3rd servant that send a chill down your spine. Maybe these things were true about the master, but if they were the only things that were true then certainly the other guys would’ve responded quite differently. It reminds me of meeting the friends of some of the students in our ministry. For some reason, those first few moments are extremely tense. Eventually they’ve come back to say, ‘I don’t know why I was so nervous, it’s just that pastor thing is a little scary. Now I know that you’re just weird.’ Every time our view of God gets distorted, we move further and further from real living. Uneasiness creeps in. Pure motivation gives way to pressure, leaving in its wake lifeless clones who settle for just getting by. A faulty picture of God ranges from the one of him sitting way off in his throne, so disconnected you’ve got to pray the same prayer a thousand times to get his attention. Then there’s the other one on the extreme end that shows him leaning over the edge of heaven with a stick in his hand just waiting to slap you upside the head for stepping out of line. Some picture him as the big ol’ Santa Clause moving at your every whim and others imagine him as the comedian playing practical jokes on everyone. We could go on but the point is that if our view of God is wrong then life is a struggle, and fear becomes a primary issue. The fear I’m talking about isn’t like being afraid of flying or the dark. This is a fear of acceptance, a fear commitment, a fear of significance, a fear of failure, a fear of being alone, a fear of being wrong and other fears that deal with our living and relating. It’s the stuff that hits the deepest part of who we are, defenseless and vulnerable, the side that few ever see. Yet, when we put ourselves on a track toward a true picture of God those things get overshadowed by who he really is. We get a look at his love, his mercy and his grace. We are left with a growing awareness of his kindness and compassion. Then every moment this true picture develops, our hearts are inspired toward great living. Not as an obligation but as a gut felt passion, something so deep that living the old way leaves a bad taste in your mouth. That is initiative. Initiative to make everyday count, in the lives of those you rub shoulders with and in your very own life as well. This was the vantagepoint of the other two servants and it made all the difference in the world.

The next thing I think this tale teaches us is:

An intimate relationship with God brings freedom.

An impersonal relationship with God brings slavery.

"I was afraid I might disappoint you, . . . Matthew 25:25 MES

Three different guys with two very different responses. Are you noticing a pattern some where here? Not only did this 3rd servant not have a clear picture of his master, there was something missing in their relationship. Disconnected because of a decision, whatever the reason, this servant was limited in his behavior to make decisions. He felt no rights or privileges as a person. Had his relationship with his master gone beyond his ‘yes sir, no sir’, things would have been extremely different. Whenever a riff appears in a relationship it brings with it the need to compare. This comparing forces one person down creating an environment where value is lost. Whether it is imagined or real, these feelings of inferiority end up restricting ones ability to live, you can call it slavery. On the other hand, when a relationship goes beyond the trivial something happens as a result of the trust that is beginning to develop. Importance is placed back on the individual. The task becomes secondary. The ultimate goal is deeper and more meaningful relationship with a plan to make everyone a winner. The intimate relationship the first two servants had with the master allowed them the chance to succeed without fear. The story seems to imply that the investments were certain to bring a return, and the return was for the benefit of everyone involved. This is freedom in its truest form and it happens as the byproduct of an intimate relationship.

One more thing this tale tells us is:

A growing desire to live for God produces purpose.

A decreasing desire to live for God produces emptiness.

Listen to these last words of this servant.

. . .So I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent." Matthew 25:25 MES

Not only was this guy missing the point of what the master had done for him, his reason for living was shrinking. Somewhere along the way, this 3rd servant discarded the memory of the one who had given him a chance at living. He settled for a lifestyle of getting by, choosing to worry about things. He opted for risk free management with an emphasis on risk free. So, in this condition, his dreams were forgotten and the dreams of the master were buried. Can you picture it? The opportunity to live hidden is some cold dark corner, given no second thought. If anything describes emptiness this does. With no little effort the quest for something great was ended, and life remained the same. What a tragedy this was. It was if he had just given up. Were the other guys so far out of sight that he didn’t get what was happening to him? For the other two servants, every waking moment presented a new challenge, and I’m guessing that it really wasn’t about the money. I don’t think either of them entertained questions of when the master was coming back. They didn’t sit around with their trusties and discuss whether or not they had done enough yet. It seems as though these two guys seized each moment with zeal because they were living for something greater than themselves. They had found purpose. It wasn’t about the money, money isn’t the point, for these servants it was about the chance to live, and they never forgot who gave them that chance.

No matter what your opinion of Winston Churchill is, one thing that everyone agrees on is that he was a great leader. Although his methods were often brash and harsh, Mr. Churchill stood out as one Prime Minister who would not settle for second best. On May 28, 1940, after being in office less than 3 weeks, Churchill lead a nation into what many historians have called Britain’s "finest hour." With Hitler breathing heavily on the necks of several countries with his threat of war, Churchill stood strong and would not tolerate negotiations with that man Hitler. At a meeting in front of full cabinet of Britain’s government, some of which were very opposed to Churchill’s stance; he demonstrated such a resolve for living, it’s inspiring. Certain that seeking peace with Germany would mean death for Britain, as a slave state of Hitler’s, Churchill concluded his meeting with the cabinet that day with these words. "I am convinced that every man of you would rise up and tear me down from this office if I were for one moment to contemplate parley or surrender. If this long island story of ours is to end at last, let it end only when each one of us lies choking in his own blood upon the ground." One biographer, commenting on that meeting, notes that not much more was said no one expressed even the faintest flicker of dissent. Do you feel his determination? Can you tell that this man knew that there was more at stake than his own political career?

I brought this event up to help us grab a hold of a truth that we are left with a decision. The decision is about how we will live our lives, full of initiative or limited by fear. Will we opt for freedom or settle for slavery? Is emptiness enough for us or do we want purpose? If you’re anything like me just getting by isn’t close to enough. We want souls that are alive and at any given moment, even when it seems dark, we want to know that the light in our hearts will burn bright and hot. Mere existence is not an option because we know there has got to be more. Well, if that’s the case, if you are interested in living then we need to look at what will make it work.

We need to ask how can I make the most of today?

As we do this there are two things I want you to keep in mind. First remember that Jesus modeled this type of living everyday of his life. He modeled it so that we would understand the importance of what we do. Indispensable for him, indispensable for us. The second thing I want you to keep in mind is that in this story that Jesus told, two guys got the idea right and only one guy didn’t. Maybe there’s a message here that tells us living this way isn’t just for a selected few. Perhaps this shows us a little bit of God’s heart and how he wants as many who will, to truly experience living.

So, how can I make the most of today?

First we’ve got to adjust our picture of God, this happens when we . . .

See it accurately -- know Him

When it comes to looking at the big picture the problem we encounter is one of perspective. When it comes to how we look at God it’s a problem of perspective. And the only way to fix both problems is by truly getting to know God. Not just a couple of parts of his character like this 3rd servant. What makes him who he is are all the different qualities and when we stop short of all of them we greatly defect our picture of him. We could spend hours on this one thing alone because it is so important. We know that as we study human behavior, a child’s view of his or her father plays a major role in how every other relationship will develop. We need to know him. Now, listening to the stories of others and their encounters with God are good but their stories will never be enough. We must begin to know the One, who gave us the chance to live, know about him and in the process to get to know him.

Solomon understood this essential aspect of living. He said,

The fear of the Lord is the beginning to knowledge. Proverbs 1:7

Knowing God has to start somewhere and the wisest man in the world said that when we start with an awesome respect true understanding is what will follow. I like how these words, "is the beginning" were chosen here. This is the starting place of knowing God and where we land over time further than we imagined. Listen to how Paul describes what knowing God does in his life.

. . . I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground – the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right up to the end.

2 Timothy 1:12 MES

This kind of result did not happen because of a weekend retreat. It is the by-product time invested things like prayer and quietness. This kind of confident living grows out of study, journaling and a "what ever it takes" commitment to knowing. In another place Paul said it like this:

I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. Philippians 3:10 MES

Living became so desirable anything that got in the way of this process of knowing was considered plain and simple trash. All the religious stuff included. Apparently he was determined to see it accurately by knowing his God.

Next in line for making the most of today we’ve got to take our relationship with God to the next level, this will start when we . . .

Choose it passionately -- follow Him

The Psalmist says it so well . . .

I wait expectantly for your salvation; God, I do what you tell me. Psalm 119:166 MES

Since the beginning of the world, when people have decided that they would move their relationship with God to the next level by following him, everyday became an adventure. They were people of passion who sought to order their lives around the one they were following. Look at what many of the disciples did. After hearing Jesus call them the Bible tells us . . .

At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:20

Careers, businesses, for some a family history were abandoned for a chance to really live. Here it is, following involves a willingness to make major course changes in any area of life. Following is a conscience decision to submit to leadership, with the guts to back it up with behavior. To remind those who had already made this choice, and enlighten those who eventually would, Jesus says that following him is truly the best choice they would ever make. He said . . .

I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in. John 8:12 MES

He points to a memory that everyone in the world owns, either by the scars on a shin or lasting images in our heads, of a darkroom. In that room is either something you want or something you need, maybe keys, a book or just the escape route you have to get to where you are going. With precision Jesus uses the all to familiar, almost embarrassing word stumble. Like magic, we are tossed into so many personal stories of our own stumbling. We laugh for a minute and suddenly we remember he’s really talking about living, so the laughter fads as pictures of our real stumblings come into view. Then he adds that it’s different this time, because as we follow him he gives us all the light we need. We can live without the fear of tripping over something. This is what we can call freedom. Jesus says it this way . . .

You are truly my disciples if you live as I tell you, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32 LB

As we follow him, without any reserve, we are guaranteed a kind of relationship that delivers freedom. That freedom continuously echoes, ‘this might be the greatest day of your life.’

As the knowing and following begin falling into place, the next thing we’ve got to do to make the most of today is live it out. This happens when we . . .

Own it deliberately -- serve Him

Until this all becomes something we own, it will become only a dream that quickly fades. Unless we ourselves are redefined, and labeled as servants, living moves out of reach and today gets lost in the shuffle. As Jesus ended a forty-day trip in the desert, his adversary jumped at him to see if he could knock him off track. One thing Satan tried to do was challenge whether or not Jesus really owned what he was giving his life to. Satan said that he would give Jesus everything, power, position, possessions, and popularity in return all Jesus would have to do was bow down and worship him.

Here is how Jesus responded . . .

Beat it, Satan! . . . Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness. Matthew 4:19 MES

Jesus new that life would never be found in anything other than a full devotion to bringing as much honor to God as possible. This moved way beyond his knowing and his following, it was now totally who he was – a servant. "Absolute single-heartedness" is what it takes to give your life away. "Absolute single-heartedness" is necessary to take care of the needs of others first. "Absolute single-heartedness" provides the well from which we draw to serve the poor, to reach out to disconnected people, to love an enemy, to care for children, to direct cars in a parking lot and to say a prayer. "Absolute single-heartedness" moves an individual into ownership creating more purpose than one could imagine. Jesus pointed out that living will only happen in those who are owners. His actual words were this . . .

In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal. John 12:25 MES

If today could be defined by the words, real and eternal, do you think we could sincerely call that living? I think that when I lay my head on the pillow tonight, if I could look back at today and describe with those two words, it would be one of the greatest days of my life. That’s what I want. I cannot settle for just that tale of living, I want to experience the real thing. This moves me to act. I want to know him, every part. I want to follow him, at every moment. I want to serve him, with all that I’ve got, because as I do I am certain my life will never be the same.

I want to share with you a little picture of one of these days in my life. A few weeks about 100 people crammed into my little back yard to witness the decision of 25 students to make the most of today. As you watch this keep in mind that real living is what they are committed to.

(Video)

Paul summed it all up so well when he said . . .

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

. . . to live is Christ . . . to live is Christ . . . to live is Christ!

(Here is the ’Hand Out’ notes)