Oct. 3, 2010 Comm.

Sermon Date: Oct. 3, 2010 (3.25, 1.57)

Sermon Title: Turn an OW into a WOW

Sermon Text: Luke 10:25-42

Small Group Text: Luke 10:25-37; Romans 13:8; Prov. 3:27-28 Generally, people are culturally conditioned to think in terms of entitlement: I’m owed!

I deserve it! Where’s mine? But the Bible teaches Christians to think in different – even opposite terms. According to the Scriptures, the guiding principle for abundant living is to consider ourselves as debtors to every person with whom we come in contact. And what do we owe? We owe the debt of selfless, sacrificial love.

WE ARE INDEBTED TO LOVE OTHERS A man may be a good doctor without loving his patients; a good lawyer without loving his clients; a good geologist without loving science; but he cannot be a good Christian without love. D L Moody

Why do we owe it?

There are a couple ways to incur a debt other than by borrowing something of value.

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When one’s large debt is graciously cancelled by a creditor, one is ethically obligated to demonstrate the same grace to his/her lesser debtors (Matt. 6:12; 18:23-34)

The recipient of an abundant life-giving resource is morally compelled to graciously share the gift with others in need of the same resource. For example, to hoard the gift of an abundant spring of water while neighbors die of thirst would be criminal.

The over-arching theme of all of Scripture is the reality of God’s unconditional love and compassion toward humanity – inexplicable, undeserved, but undeniable. The reality of God’s love is especially apparent in God’s compassionate initiatives toward humanity: •

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The offer of reconciliation through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. This transaction literally cancels every believer’s debt for sin and restores the relationship between God and anyone who will receive this gracious gift by faith (Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 4:7-8; Ephesians 2:8-9).

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Additionally, Christians have received the incredible miracle of life (both spiritual & eternal). Through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, and the resource of His Holy Spirit, God provides abundant and eternal life to those who respond in faith to His gracious offer of salvation (John 3:16; 6:35-40; 10:10; 17:3; Romans 8:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 John 1:2; 5:11)

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Not only the cancelation of debt and the gift of life, but every believer has been given the gift of adoption into the family of God: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

In view of God’s indescribable mercy, Paul reminds us of our continuing debt to God – not as a means of attaining anything from Him, but in expression of our gratitude to Him. This debt is being paid down every day as we find ways to pay the love and grace of God forward to others. Paul writes, I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. Romans 1:14 In other words, “I’m indebted to everyone.”

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. [9] The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Romans 13:8-9 (See also Leviticus 19:18,34; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Galatians 5:13; James 2:8, 9, 10) WE HAVE NEIGHBOR TO LOVE The words of Jesus echo in Paul’s admonition to the church. Love God. Love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). And somehow, this quality of selfless, sacrificial love actually carries out the righteousness at which the Ten Commandments and the Law could only aim but never hit. Every law and each commandment is an expression of love for God or love for people. And any attempt to reduce Christianity to a catalogue of “religious" duties or a list of do’s and don’ts pales in contrast to fulfilling this debt of love (Galatians 5:14). In the final analysis, Christianity is preeminently about living in selfless, sacrificial ways: loving God and loving neighbors. This is the distinguishing mark of the Christian, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 Who is our neighbor?

Our neighbor is anyone "near" us (Greek, plesion, derived from the word meaning, "near"); therefore, practically speaking, anyone who comes within close proximity to us in our day is our neighbor.

Read Luke 10:25-37. See how Jesus answers this question in the story of the Good Samaritan.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"—when you now have it with you. Proverbs 3:27-28 Christ-followers do not intentionally act unloving. But typically, we’re too preoccupied to care about others outside of our immediate relationships – especially strangers. Personal obligations and hurried schedules crowd out the time, energy and resources required to love well. It’s a small step then to a spirit of indifference: “What does my life have to do with them?” Add to the mix, past hurts, rejection and ill-fated attempts to show love, and one can become jaded and disillusioned – wondering if people are owed a friendly smile – never mind acts of mercy and love.

Perhaps this is why God moves the possibility of loving others out of the category of feelings, turning it into an imperative instead – an imperative based on the immeasurable love, mercy and grace we have already received from Him! It’s not optional. It’s a command. It’s an outstanding debt every Christian owes regardless of how we feel at any given moment. To care for people in need, to love actively, to raise another person’s spirit through courageous, selfless acts of mercy and grace delivers us from self-absorbed cynicism as we engage in paying down the lifelong debt of love to others.

WE HAVE RESOURCES WITH WHICH TO LOVE “But how am I to pay this debt of love – especially if I don’t feel like it?

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:5 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:11-16 Within every believer, there lives a wellspring of selfless, sacrificial love through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Practicing how to “walk in the Spirit” and learning not to grieve or quench the Spirit enables God to produce in us spiritual “fruit” or loving effects toward others; e.g., joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This is where God becomes evident to the people around us.

Therefore, no more excuses as to why someone is unlovable or undeserving of our love. In view of 1) God’s mercy and grace toward us, and 2) the power of love residing within, we are obliged to aim and release God’s love toward others every day in every possible way.

Paying down the debt of love is a way of life.

HOW DO WE PAY IT BACK FORWARD If you’ve ever owed someone something, e.g., money or a borrowed power tool or household item, what is the first thing you think of when you happen to run into them?

The outstanding debt! This is Paul’s point in Romans 13:8. The first thought that comes to mind when you run into anyone God brings into your day ought to be, the outstanding debt. “I owe him/her! I have a great and wonderful debt to pay down in this very moment.” We need to truly see ourselves as spiritual debtors. At home, at work, at school, in the neighborhood, at the store—wherever we go, whomever we meet – that we owe love ought to be our very first thought.

There is a sense in which our willingness to pay this debt of love toward our neighbors is a better measure of our spiritual condition than our stated love for God. Affection for God can be an abstract/emotional commitment without tangible expression – demanding little time or effort. Not so, love for neighbors. The debt of love, paid forward to neighbors, is not fulfilled in mere words. Rather, this quality of love will always cost, it is always unconditional and it is always rooted in gratitude and a lasting commitment to God. How to pay it forward? Let’s think about the kinds of actions that communicate love to us. This might be a good place to begin. Start loving people in ways that would make you feel loved. Then, ratchet it up another notch by asking yourself this question: “How might I begin loving individuals in ways that make sense to them personally – ways in which they would feel especially loved?” We could then adapt our gestures of love and kindness to accommodate their specific needs as we daily look for creative ways to ‘’Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.’’