1. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we should appreciate the motivation for our thanksgiving.
a. We're thankful because God has blessed us richly.
b. The greatest of all blessings is having Christ as savior.
c. To have Christ as savior, we must allow Him to also be our Lord. We must be willing to put Him first in our lives. Words of thanksgiving are meaningless unless we back them up by living lives of commitment to Christ as Lord.
2. The incident of the Rich Young Ruler illustrates the importance of commitment to Christ. Let us read Luke 18:18-23 (NKJV) Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'" 21 And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth." 22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
3. Notice some facts about this young man.
a. He appears to be a sincere seeker after truth.
(1) He held an important position.
(2) He seems to earnestly want to know what to do to inherit eternal life.
(3) Mark's account says that Jesus loved him [Mark 10:21].
b. He looked at Jesus as a great teacher. He knew he could learn from Jesus.
(1) He addressed Jesus as "Good Teacher."
(2) He did not intend to address God. Nothing indicates that he had any understanding of who Jesus really is.
c. He had kept the commandments.
(1) He had not kept the whole law perfectly.
(2) He was a good moral man who wanted to go to heaven.
d. There was one thing lacking in his life.
(1) The unwillingness to sell his possessions was just a symptom.
(2) He was still in control of his life. He trusted in himself. He did not recognize his need for God.
4. Many in the church today are in the same situation.
a. They have not really been converted. They may have been baptized but they never really gave up control to Christ.
b. Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 are typical of church members who are still thinking about themselves.
c. However, all things should become new when we are in Christ [2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.] We need to gain a new perspective on the things that really matter. Who's in charge now?
I. PUT CHRIST FIRST IN THE WAY WE LIVE.
A. The Rich Young Ruler was a good moral man.
1. Yet his morals were a list of "Thou shalt nots"
2. This is negative morality. It's not living FOR Christ; it's simply trying to keep the commandments to avoid acts of sin.
a. This didn't work under the Law of Moses [Galatians 3:10-11 (NKJV) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."]
b. It won't work under the gospel of Christ! Being "on your best behavior" by itself is not enough for one to live the Christian life.
B. The committed Christian continuously glorifies God in his life.
1. Colossians 3:15-17 (NKJV) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
a. It would be a mistake to limit the teaching of these verses to the things we do in worship assemblies. This applies to every aspect of life. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him! Thanksgiving and thanksliving go on all the time . . . not just the 4th Thursday in November.
b. We must live every aspect of our lives by the authority of Christ. He is Lord and Master and tells us what to do all the time. You don't ever have a "day off" from being a Christian.
2. Glorify God to others [Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
a. Committed Christian living presents a pretty picture of genuine Christianity.
(1) "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one."
(2) Consider the first church members in Jerusalem [Acts 2:44-47 (NKJV) Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.]
(3) The church grew so fast in the 1st century not only because the truth was being taught, but because it was being lived.
b. There is a difference in morals between Christian people and worldly people [1 John 2:15 (NKJV) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.]
(1) We must not allow the distinction to be blurred.
(2) Our role is to be lights to the world. We must not conform ourselves to their standards.
(a) Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
(b) Look at Peter in Matthew 26:73-74 (NKJV) And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you." 74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. At that moment, Peter was motivated by the desire to fit in with the world. He was not thinking about being thankful for all that Christ had done for him. When we lose our focus, our standards of behavior can become twisted.
II. PUT CHRIST FIRST IN THE WAY WE WORK FOR HIM!
A. Attendance at services
1. Attendance within itself doesn't prove anything.
a. If our goal is to simply get people to "come to church," we have our priorities mixed up. Some of the denominations do that much better than we do because they know the activities that will attract crowds and are willing to do what it takes to get the people in the building.
b. Our aim should be to get people to become Christians or to become stronger Christians. The goal is souls, not seats filled. Of course, filled seats are a good thing -- if while people are filling those seats, we teach them the gospel and do it in such a way so that they want to know more.
2. Many who do not attend all services of the church are something like the Rich Young Ruler.
a. They want to go to heaven.
b. Their commitment is not strong enough. They aren't willing to give up everything for their relationship with Christ. Other things have a higher priority than being present when a group of Christians come together to worship the Lord.
3. Other things -- no matter if they are important -- should not be allowed to get in the way of worshipping God.
B. Working for the Lord
1. How grateful are you to God if you aren't willing to use your time and energy working for His cause?
2. Any work of the Lord deserves your greatest effort.
a. Visitation
b. Inner City
c. Special activities
d. Bible school
e. No one can do everything, but every one can do something and do it with enthusiasm and zealous commitment.
CONCLUSION
1. I believe the Leonard Street church stands at a crossroads.
a. If we look at the work of Jesus with complacency, we will become older, weaker, and smaller. Without passion and commitment for serving Christ, we will not experience significant growth.
b. If we will seriously commit ourselves to doing the work the Lord wants done, results will come. We don't have to be responsible for numbers. If we plant the seed and water the plants, God will take care of the growth [1 Corinthians 3:6].
2. The Rich Young Ruler was unwilling to accept the Lord's terms for discipleship. He went away with sorrow. What about you?