YOUR WAY OR MY WAY?

Luke 12: 13-21

A millennial opened the door of his BMW, when suddenly a car came along and hit the door, ripping it off completely. When the police arrived at the scene, the young man was complaining bitterly about the damage to his precious BMW. "Officer, look what they've done to my Beeeemer!!!" he whined. 
 

"You millennials are so materialistic, you make me sick!!!" retorted the officer, "You're so worried about your stupid BMW, that you didn't even notice that your left arm was ripped off!!!" Oh...", replied the 20-something, finally noticing the bloody left shoulder where his arm once was, and screamed, “Where's my Rolex!!!!!”

Three contractors were touring the White House on the same day. One was from New York, another from Missouri, and the third from Florida. At the end of the tour, the guard asked them what they did for a living. when they each replied that they were contractors, the guard said, "Hey we need one of the rear fences redone. Why don't you guys take a look at it and give me your bids." 
  
First, the Florida contractor took out his tape measure and pencil, did some measuring and said, "I figure the job will run about $900 -- $400 for materials, $400 for my crew, and $100 profit for me." 
       
Next was the Missouri contractor. He also took out his tape measure and pencil, did some quick calculations and said, "Looks like I can do this job for $700 -- $300 for materials, $300 for my crew, and $100 profit for me." 
       

Finally, the guard asks the New York contractor for his bid. Without batting an eye, the contractor says, "$2,700."  The guard, incredulous, looks at him and says, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?" 
     

"Easy," says the contractor from New York, "$1,000 for me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Missouri."

Heard recently at a Middle School gathering: “Do not touch MY iPhone. It's not an usPhone, it's not a wePhone, it's not an ourPhone. It's an iPhone.”

Greed, lust, ownership of possessions, selfish accumulation of stuff will keep you from the kingdom of God as it is too distracting from God’s Will.

(Luke 12: 13-21) - Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me."

But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."

Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'

But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

Some in our society think that rules were not meant for them or that there are no rules because there is no one to enforce them. Rules and codes of conduct are for the other guy.

There are always rules that everyone needs to adhere to, from early childhood (brush your teeth), to the teenage years (be home by 10:00), to the young adult (you must pay your “dues”), to the old geezers (no passing gas in public).

There are rules at home, at school, at work, in public, and when you get married there are rules at home again, just different ones. We humans create rules for every aspect of our lives. Some of those rules (speed limits) become laws, others (passing gas in an elevator) are social ones.

God has rules too. If the planets didn’t obey His rules, we would all crash and burn.

Sometimes our human laws reflect God’s Laws, but we often don’t let our lives reflect God’s values. Our scripture passage admits that we should set our own human laws but woe to the people who don’t consider God’s values in making those laws.

Okay, let’s go the important point here: How we live and prepare for eternity will have a direct bearing on how we’ll face eternity. If we follow God’s rules we’ll be rich in God, but if we don’t we’ll find ourselves with little resources to survive.

Its an age old question of where we will spend eternity? Every human being since Adam and Eve is going to spend eternity in one of two places, Heaven or hell. God has but one rule about this if we desire Heaven. That’s all He needs, but He’s dead serious about it.

To make a long story short, God’s one rule to be with Him is very simple, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31 NIV)

For a little background, but still keeping it simple, here’s what the Bible says about how God’s rules apply to us:

Everyone has sinned. (Romans 3:23)
Therefore, everyone will die. (Romans 6:23a)
God offers the gift of eternal life. (Romans 6:23b)
We can’t earn it. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
So how do we get it? (Romans 10:11-13)
It is by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Once we receive the gift, we cannot lose it. (John 10:27-30)
What if I don’t believe? (John 3:18)
Is there any other way to be saved other than through Jesus? (John 14:6)

Isn’t it strange that regardless of our age, or where we live, we all have rules that we must follow? Often there are consequences if we violate the rules, and sometimes the consequences can be very serious. But that isn’t the strange part.

Despite Jesus being the epitome of Love, He gave at least 38 “Commandments” as recorded in the four accepted Gospels:

1. "When you stand praying, forgive." (Mark 11: 25-26)

2. "You must be born again." (John 3: 7)

3. "Remain in Me and I will remain in you." (John 15: 4)

4. "Let your light shine before men." (Matt 5: 14;16)

5. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary." (Matt 5: 25)

6. "Get rid of whatever causes you to sin." (Matt 5: 29-30)

7. "Do Not Swear at All." (Matt 5: 34-37)

8. "Do Not Resist an Evil Person." (Matt 5:  38-39)

9. "Giving More than is Demanded." (Matt 5: 40-42)

10. "Love Your Enemies" (Matt 5: 43-45)

11. "Give to Please God, Not to be Seen by others." (Matt 6: 1)

12. "Pray Privately, Not to be Seen of Men." (Matt 6: 5-7)

13. "This, then, is how you should pray." (Matt 6: 9-15)

14. "Fast Without Fanfare." (Matt 6: 16)

15. "Do not Store up Treasures on Earth." (Matt 6: 19-21)

16. "Do not Worry about Your Needs." (Matt 6: 25-26)

17. "Do not Worry about Tomorrow." (Matt 6: 34).

18. "Place God First." (Matt 6: 33)

19. "Do not Judge" ("Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you," Matt 7: 1-2 NIV).

20. "Guard what is Sacred." (Matt 7: 6)

21. "Ask, Seek, and Knock." (Matt 7: 7)

22. "Care for Those in Distress." (Matt 25: 34-36)

23. "Enter Through the Narrow Gate." (Matt 7: 13-14)

24. "Watch out for false prophets." (Matt 7: 15)

25. "Exercise Spiritual Power." (Matt 10: 1)
26. "Do not Despise Childlike Believers." (Matt 18: 10)

27. "Do not Exalt Yourself." (Matt 23: 8-12)

28. "Settle Disputes Between Believers in this Manner..." (Matt 18: 15-17)

29. "Do not Oppose Other Christian Groups." (Mark 9: 38-40)

30. "Have Complete Faith in God." (Mark 11: 22-24)

31. "Do as the Good Samaritan Did." (Luke 10: 30-37) 

32. "Love One Another." (John 15: 12)

33. "Do this in Remembrance of Me." (Luke 22: 19-20)

34. "You Should also Wash One Another's Feet." (John 13: 14)

35. "Be Merciful." (Luke 6: 36)

36. "Go, Make Disciples of All Nations, Baptizing Them." (Matt 28: 19-20)

37. "Obey What I Command" (John 14: 15)

38. "You Must be Ready." (Luke 12: 40)

Please understand that these “commands” are roadmaps to Jesus’ character and guidelines for our behavior – they are not to be used as scorecards to claim righteousness or to accuse others of falling short of His Glory.

The strange part is that so many people think that when it comes to God, there are no rules. Actually, the same people think they can make the rules themselves on God’s behalf, and He will graciously concede. What a delusion they will find.

Look friends that kind of thinking has sent millions of people to hell and is still doing so today. You might think you can do it your way (as the song goes), but it won’t work.

Jesus tells us in our Gospel Lesson for today that your way will get you in a place called hell of which you will reside for all eternity. Once you breathe your last breath and you’re in hell, there is no turning back. There is no second chance. It is permanent. So think about how you prepare real hard. Amen.