Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
Everyone Serves Something
In college, Jefferson Bethke met a lot of people who were more than happy to accept Jesus’s “good” teachings but weren’t interested in his hard teachings, such as “take up your cross daily” (Luke 9:23). But everyone and everything in the world ask something or takes something from us. Friendships, romantic relationships, your job, and school all require your time, effort, and energy. So why is it suddenly an issue when Jesus asks the same?
[Related: You Will Become What You Worship | Idols #3]
Jesus Proved We Should Follow Him by Giving Up Everything for Us
While Jesus is not unique in that he asks us for our all, he is unique in that he has already given his all for us, even laying aside his rights and privileges as God the Son to secure the salvation of those who will trust in him (Philippians 2:5-8).
Our jobs, school, relationships, and everything else in life all come to us asking us to give to them without the promise of success or blessing. Even if a new career seems perfect and you go above and beyond to climb the ladder, a new boss with a grudge or corporate downsizing could quickly get you laid off from your dream job despite all your efforts. The same is true in sports, school, or relationships. There is never a promise that we will actually achieve what we’ve set off after – except with Jesus.
[Related: You’ll Need More than Willpower to Honor God | Galatians 5]
We Are Servants, Not Slaves
Following Jesus comes with real stipulations and consequences. Jesus calls us to make him number one in our lives without exception.
When Jesus tells potential followers not to bury their dead family members or to say goodbye to them (Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:61-62) or when he tells the rich young ruler to give everything away (Matthew 19:16-22), it is not because he doesn’t care about grieving (John 11:35) or that riches or rich people are inherently evil (Mark 15:43). It because those people wanted to put Jesus after their riches or their families, and if we want to follow Jesus, everything else must become secondary.
So while the teachings of Jesus can be hard, we are “wooed” into grace by his sacrifice and love for us. We know that God is a God who desire the ultimate blessing, not the ultimate destruction, of his people (Jeremiah 29:11). True joy comes in not merely doing the will of God, but in desiring and living the will of God. This is not a burden from Jesus, but an invitation.
[Related: Freedom vs Moral Duty | Versus #2]
What in your life is craving your attention, time, resources, and energy? Are you giving yourself first to Jesus, or has he become an afterthought in your life?
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever met someone who seemed interested in Jesus, but didn’t want to follow him because his teachings were too hard? What happened?
- What are some of Jesus’s teachings that challenge you? Why are these teachings uniquely challenging to you?
- Does the Christian seem to you to be a “burden” or an “invitation?” Explain.
- Have you ever thought a new job, relationship, or other endeavor was going to work out great for you, only to have the carpet pulled out from under your feet? Or have you known someone this has happened to? How does this illustrate Jeff’s point in his video?
- What does it mean to have an “idol?” How does idolatry relate to Jeff’s point in this video?
- What things in your life are crying out for your attention and seeking to pull you from Jesus? Why do these things challenge you uniquely? What steps must you take to keep Jesus first
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
