Series: The Things Jesus TOOK!
The Lad: The Secret of Success
Luke 9: 46-48
In his book, "The Success Journey," John Maxwell gives the average person's traditional picture of success.
The wealth of Bill Gates,
The physique of Arnold Schwarzenegger
The intelligence of Albert Einstein,
The athletic ability of Lebron James,
The business savvy of Donald Trump,
The social grace of Jackie Kennedy,
The imagination of Walt Disney, and
The heart of Mother Teresa.
It has been well said that, "We're never more like Jesus than when we give." Any student of the Word is familiar with the blessed truth that the Lord Jesus was a giver. There are many wonderful examples of His giving in the Bible; and, none any greater than when,
"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
Though we are familiar with Jesus being a giver, we must also understand that Jesus was a "taker" as well.
On 5 specific occasions we read that Jesus "took" something.
Luke 9: 47: "took a child."
John 6: 11: "took the five loaves and two fishes."
John 13: 4: "took a towel."
Matt. 26: 27: "took bread...took the cup."
Phil. 2:7: "took upon Him the form of a servant."
I want you to consider with me, the next few weeks, the subject, "The Things Jesus Took."
In our text, Luke 9, Jesus "took a child." As we consider the story we see that Jesus took a child to teach His disciples the secret of success. Here at the beginning of a new year, we ought to give some attention to how to be successful.
Success can be defined in relation to our jobs or our families or our relation to God. There are a lot of different ways to consider the subject.
How would you define success? What is it that truly makes a person great or successful? In our day, success is often defined by power, prestige, position, possessions and popularity.
Yet, do those things determine whether or not a person is successful?
I heard a story about three business professionals who were comparing ideas on what it meant to be successful. The first said, "I'd say I had arrived if I were summoned to the White House for a private, personal meeting with the President of the United States."
The 2nd said, "To me, success would mean meeting with the President in the Oval Office, having the hot line ring during our talk, and watching the President ignore it." The 3rd said, "No, you've both got it wrong. You're a success if you're privately consulting with the President, the hot line rings; he picks it up and says, “It's for you!'"
We tend to look at success in terms of the biggest, fastest, and priciest. The same is true even in Christian circles. Preachers get together and the 1st thing they ask is, "How big is your church?" If it is what we deem big enough, in terms of membership, then we view it as a success.
I found an interesting and funny little piece the other day. It is someone's definition of success:
At age 4, success is...not peeing in your pants.
At age 12, success is...having friends.
At age 16, success is...having a driver's license.
At age 20, success is...having intimate relationship.
At age 35, success is...having money.
At age 50, success is...having more money.
At age 60, success is...having intimate relationship
At age 70, success is...having a driver's license.
At age 75, success is...having friends.
At age 90, success is...not peeing in your pants.
What is it that defines success? Let's consider our text and notice the lad that Jesus took to explain success. As I examine this story, I see, first of all,
1. A Wrong Attitude!
Verse 46
It is important to note that the disciples were not discussing the matter of greatness from the standpoint that they were wanted to be "giants for God."
Had their conversation revealed hearts that were burning and blazing to do something great for God, I don't believe that Jesus would have condemned them, but commended and complimented them.
They were not discussing being great, or even doing great things for God. If you carefully notice verse 46, you see that they were talking about the matter of who was the greatest, or the most successful among them.
Don't misunderstand me, I believe that every Christian should aspire to be great, and do great things for God. As a young preacher, I was introduced to a couple of quotes that were like gasoline to my already burning heart.
One day I heard a preacher quote the words of William Carey, "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God!"
Billy Sunday said in his biography, “I want to be a giant for God!"
I believe that every Christian ought to, like Carey, "expect great things from God; and, attempt great things for God."
I believe that every Christian ought to desire, like Sunday, "to be a giant for God."
However, sadly enough, many Christians are content with being medium average. We want our children to excel and be prominent in sports, but give very little attention to spiritual things. We want to succeed in our businesses, and neglect the church’s business.
We should desire to be great servants for God and do great service to God.
But the disciples were not discussing the matter of being great servants for God, nor doing great service to God, and the Lord address this wrong attitude.
Notice again verse 46
The word "dispute" or “reasoning” is the Greek word from which we get the word "dialogue." However, the word literally speaks of a dispute. In other words, they were doing much more than discussing the matter of greatness; they were arguing the matter of greatness.
The words give the picture of one saying something and another responding with their opinion. It was back and forth, one said this, and another said that.
The disciples thought of the Lord's Kingdom as an earthly kingdom and their argument was about who would have the places of prestige and honor in that kingdom. They were discussing matters of rank, importance and status, and who would hold offices and posts of honor in that kingdom.
It reminds me of the 3 boys in the school-yard bragging about their fathers. One boy said, "My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, and they give him $50." Another boy said, "My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, and they give him a $100." The third boy said, "That's nothing. My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes 6 men to collect all the money!"
These disciples resemble a school-yard of children arguing over who was the greatest, most successful, and the best. I can just imagine James and John saying, "If anyone deserves the highest positions it is most definitely us.
Jesus took us up the mountain with Him when He was transfigured."
Peter no doubt speaks up, and says, "Anybody can climb a mountain. I was there with you. Where were you when I was walking on the water?” Back and forth they went trying to determine who was the most successful, and why.
The bottom line of their argument was that each disciple felt, in their own heart, and, believed, in their own mind, they were the greatest. Sounds like a bunch of children, does it not? Better yet, sounds like a bunch of Baptists, does it not?
It reminds me of a preacher who was talking to his wife while they were going home from church one Sunday night. He had just delivered, so he thought, a dynamic sermon that day, and he asked his wife, "I wonder now many really great preachers there are in the world? Without blinking any eye, his wife said, "One less than you think!"
These disciples evaluation of success was based on who they thought they were, and what they thought they had done.
Many Christians, like these disciples, because of who they think they are, and what they think they have done believe that the kingdom of God would fall apart if it weren't for them.
But, I remind you of Paul's words, in Romans 12: 3:
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
I would remind you that we need God a whole lot more than He needs us. Yet, how many go through life with their hand outstretched thinking that God owes them something, and God would sink into depression if they ceased to serve Him.
Listen: if it were not for the grace of God, we would be nothing, and could do nothing. We would lost and in hell, or at least on our way to hell. Thus, what we are, who we are and where we are is all because of God's grace.
Some folks believe they are too good to work in the nursery or drive a van or help with the children or change a light bulb or plunge a toilet. All they want ot do is gripe about it and expect someone to do it for them.
That is a sorry attitude, and it was the attitude of the disciples. You would think that anybody but the men who had the closest contact with the Lord Jesus would have been arguing over who they thought was the greatest.
Not only did they have a wrong attitude, they are involved in
2. A Ridiculous Argument!
The most ridiculous thing about their argument was the fact that they were arguing over who was the greatest among them. In the context of what Jesus has already said, they completely missed the point. All they could think about was themselves and miss the lesson of learning to live a life that has been emptied of self.
Verses 43-44
Notice the phrase "Let these words sink in!" Jesus is telling them to pay very special attention to what He had just said. What was it that He said to them? He told them that:
"...the Son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."
He was speaking of the events that would ultimately lead to His death on the Cross.
What is the point? His death was the greatest act of selflessness this world has ever known. He came to this earth because of others. He came to "seek and to save that which was lost." He came into this world "to save sinners." His life, and death, could be summed up in one word: OTHERS!
Helen Keller said, "I find life an exciting business and most exciting when lived for others!"
The hymn writer said:
Others, Lord, yes others,
May this my motto be.
Lord, let me live for others
That I may live for Thee.
Without question, when we look at the life of the Lord Jesus we see that He was moved by others, ministered to others, and murdered for others. His life, and death, was not about Himself, it was about OTHERS!
His was a life emptied of self while the disciples were living a life consumed with Self
William Rees expressed sarcasm, but shared great insight into the selfish attitude of many toward God when he wrote:
"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of God to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy only $3 worth of God, please."
Think about what Jesus has just said to them. He tells them He is going to be betrayed. He tells them that He is going to be delivered into the hands of men.
Verse 45 tells us that they didn’t understand what He was talking about, and they weren’t concerned enough to inquire further.
It was almost as if they could care less about what Jesus was saying, because all they were concerned with was their future positions in the kingdom. What He said went in one ear, and out the other.
No sooner did He say that He was going to be betrayed and delivered into the hands of men, when they began arguing over who would be the greatest in the kingdom. In spite of what Jesus had told them, all they could do was think about, and talk about themselves.
It has been well said that the smallest package in the world is a person wrapped up in themselves. Someone has said, "The mental cases most difficult to cure are those people who are crazy about themselves."
For many, like the disciples, their life is wrapped up in themselves. Their whole life is built around #1. They look in their mirror and sing, "How Great Thou Art!" or “I Light UP My Life”.
They are only concerned with whether they are the greatest, have the biggest, drive the fastest and possess the largest.
What a sad, tragic way to live life only for yourself.
A Wrong Attitude, A Ridiculous Argument, and
3. A Revealing Answer!
At the beginning of this sermon, I posed the question to you, “how would you define success/greatness?” When we look at the answer Jesus gave His disciples, we find that greatness is not measured by how powerful, how prominent, how prestigious, or how popular a person may be.
The answer Jesus gave the disciples was revealed with Jesus “taking” a child, and using him as an object lesson.
Verse 47
What an answer! The word "took" simply means, "to take hold." In other words, Jesus reaches out, takes a child by the arm, and pulls him to Himself. Mark tells us that Jesus "took" the child in His arms.
Can’t you just see that scene unfolding?
All this arguing is going on among the hotshots. The big dogs are settling important stuff, and Jesus reaches out, puts His arms around him, and draws him to Himself.
Religious historians and tradition says that the little boy Jesus took grew to be Ignatius of Antioch, who was a great leader in the early church. Ignatius would become a great writer, and would ultimately give his life for the cause of Christ. Some believe that the child was the son of Simon Peter.
Whoever the child was, children in those days were regarded with little importance of esteem. Yet, it was a child that Jesus "took" and wrapped His arms around him.
Then, we're told that Jesus "took a child, and set him by him." The word "set" means, "to stand." In other words, Jesus stood the child by His side. It is my opinion that He stood him at His right side, the position of authority, honor and power.
The disciples were arguing over who would be the greatest in the kingdom and who, of all people, did Jesus take and stand at His side? He "took" an insignificant, lowly child.
And through this living, breathing object lesson, Jesus taught a valuable lesson:
Verse 48
You can rest assured that the disciples got the point Jesus was making when He "took" the lad. By taking the lad, Jesus was defining real success/greatness, as it relates to the kingdom of God. He took an insignificant person to teach an important principle.
In Matthew's account of this scene, he records that Jesus said:
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18: 4)
What is the secret of success? Success is the humbling of ourselves before God. Success is the recognition of the fact that without Him, we can do nothing. Success is coming to grips with the fact that we can't even walk without Him holding our hand.
Notice that Jesus spoke of "receiving a child." The word "receiving" literally means, "to welcome."
He was making the point that to welcome a child is to welcome one that can do nothing to add to one's prestige, power or position.
I once heard Jr. Hill define integrity as, "How you treat people you really don't need." A little child has nothing to give that can enlarge or exalt someone. From the world's standard, a child would be someone that we wouldn't really need to climb the corporate ladder of success. In fact, in today's world, children are often the target of neglect, not notoriety.
However, Jesus measures success in a whole different light. He is saying that when we welcome someone like a little child we welcome Him; and, when we welcome Him, we welcome the One who had sent Him.
He is saying that success is not defined by living a self-centered life, but by living a God-centered life. Success is not defined by seeking to please others, but by seeking to please the Lord.
To be honest, Bible Christianity is the exact opposite of anything taught by the world. The world says if you want to succeed, look out for #1. Jesus says if you want to succeed, be last instead of first.
What the world calls “the greatest”, Jesus calls “the least”;' and, what the world calls “the least”, Jesus calls “the greatest”. If you want to be honored, then learn to be humbled. If you want to be brought high, then you must be brought low. If you desire a promotion, then be willing to accept a demotion. If you want to live, then first you must die.
Dr. A. J. Cronin was a Scottish born medical doctor and novelist who lived at the beinning of the 20th century. He told of a district nurse who, for more than 20 years, single-handily served a 10-mile district. Dr. Cronin said, "I marveled at her patience, her fortitude and her cheerfulness."
She was never too tired to rise at night for an urgent call. Dr. Cronin knew that her salary was quite inadequate for all she did, and on one occasion he said to her, "Why don't you make them pay you more money, God knows you're worth it." She replied, "If God knows I'm worth it, that's all that matters to me!"
She was much like the young man named James who was a grocery clerk. He started a a business, with only $65 capital to peddle cheese from a one horse wagon. To say he was a dismal failure would be kind.
James continued to push himself but grew deeper in debt. He was young and inexperienced, so he sought the advice of a wise Christian friend. The friend said, "It’s simple. You haven't included God in your business. You haven't let Him take over the work. You've only ask Him to be a part of it. But, that's not how God works."
That sent the young clerk into a tailspin. James was gripped with mixed emotions. He was offended that such a judgment be laid on him. At the same time, he was struck by his friend's blunt honesty. Days passed as the young clerk prayed and pondered. Finally, he wrote his friend and said, "If God wants to run a cheese business, He can do. I'll work for Him."
From that moment on, God became the senior partner in his business. A chair was even left open in meetings, reminding key staff of God's presence in their meetings. Over the months the business exploded. It eventually became the largest cheese company in the world. But it was only when James L. Kraft finally gave it all to God that it became the Kraft Cheese Company.
I think it no coincidence that the only time the word "success" is found in the Bible is in Joshua 1: 8,
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Do you want to know the secret to success/greatness? Then, be obedient to the Word. Realize that success is not found in seeking great things for yourself, but in seeking great things to honor, and glorify God in, through, with and by your life.
I recently read, "The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Jesus, you make it to a place called Success."
According to the standards of our Lord, would you be considered a success?
