My Life For You

English

My life for you

James 4:6-10

I want to talk today simply about two different approaches to how we live each day of our lives, e.g., how we make many of our decisions, how we use our resources, and how we engage people. One approach I'll call "my life for me" and the other I'll call "my life for you". In the "my life for me" approach, each one of us focuses on furthering our own personal goals and pursuing personal happiness and success. In the "my life for you", we focus on how our lives might contribute positively to those God brings into our lives. I hope to show you how each of these approaches can become a way of life affecting almost everything we do.
This is a perfect weekend for us to consider this topic because we have three important emphases going on: 1) Palm Sunday, 2) many of our LAC people being baptized and 3) hearing from Pastor James of the 1st Church of Jerusalem in another hard-hitting and practical text, James 4:6-10. Although these may seem to be very different from one another, I find they are held together by what they teach us about these two diametrically opposed ways that we can wake up in the morning and live every day of our lives either in focusing on ourselves or on serving others.

The way of our culture: My life for me
I've lived long enough to know that, in our world, every generation looks at the next generation as being the "me generation". I know that when I was in high school, the older generation called us the me-generation. And, if you know anything about the 1960s, you'll know my generation said the same thing about our parents. "Don't trust anyone over 30!" activist Jack Weinberger proclaimed. "They just live for themselves." So, I doubt that any one generation has been more a "me generation" than any other. In fact, it is clear to me that ever since Adam and Eve insisted on being their own masters, every generation has tended toward being a "me generation". Our strong human tendency in any generation is to live "my life for me."
This "my life for me" perspective plays out in a couple of ways in different cultures. In Western society, it is very individualistic. It's been largely an "every man for himself" way of living. We've even developed philosophies to support an individualistic, me-centered way of life. In the past century, American psychologist Abraham Maslow developed his hierarchy of human needs, a theory of psychological health built on the idea that we can only become actualized persons by meeting our own innate human needs. Maslow established a well-known chart that showed how we must give these personal needs priority in our decisions and pursuits. This way of life culminates, he wrote, in what he called "self-actualization". The impact of this kind of philosophy has often been self-obsession. "Do more for yourself. You deserve it." "You're problem is that you do too much for others. You need to look out for yourself."
Of course, the culture in Bible times was not so individualistic as American society has become. It was more family or clan centered. It was more "my life for us" (i.e., me and my clan) than "my life for me alone". The result is much like what we see in James' letter. People were welcoming only people like themselves into the church. Others were excluded. So, the impact on the church was very destructive to the churches being what they should be – places of hope for those in distress, places of welcome for those not welcomed elsewhere... James called the church people away from a "my life for us" culture that excluded Gentiles, immigrants, and widows. In effect, "my life for us" is similar to "my life for me". In both, we live for personal benefit in ways that keep us from obeying Jesus' command to love all people.
So, beware. The way of the world around you will not be treating all people as valuable and all people as being made in God's image. The way of the world will tell you that -- "all you have is yours so you had better hold on to it." And, it will tell you that you had better watch out for yourself and for your own."
But Jesus shows us a better way.

The Way of Jesus: My life for you (The Lesson of Palm Sunday)
This is Palm Sunday. Many people are baffled by what the Bible says transpired on this day. Some speak of "The Palm Sunday Mystery." The question is this: How could a crowd welcome Jesus as king with such enthusiasm on one day — and then cry out for his execution a week later? It seems that Jesus' reputation and his miracles led to people in Jerusalem thinking he was a warrior king who would rescue them from an oppressive government. They were partially right. He was a king. But they were wrong because he was not the kind of king they expected. He was a rescuer – but not the kind of rescuer they were demanding. Jesus had come to set people free – but not just those of one nation. He was coming to make all things right for people of every nation, ethnicity and people group who would trust in him.
Jesus was not confused about his identity or mission. He knew he was in nature God. He knew he was the one who had come in the line of David to be the king over all kings. He knew that he had power over all authorities and that he even could call 10,000 angels to defeat anyone who would stand against him. But, Jesus' life was marked by "my life for yours". He said that greater love has no one than this – to lay down his life for a friend. And he not only said it. He did it. He did not consider his position of equality with God something to use for his own benefit but emptied himself to the point of crucifixion...
On Palm Sunday we remember that, just before going into Jerusalem, Jesus said, "The leaders in the world lord their positions over their people and seek only their own benefit. Not so with you! For even the Son of Man did not come to be serve but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mk 10:42-45)."
On Palm Sunday, we remember that the King over all kings, the one with all authority in heaven and earth, chose to iave his life for us. He gave his life for you! Jesus lived a life of service. He served to the point of death so that your deepest needs might be met. And, when you follow him, he calls you to find your lives by serving as he served. He calls you to a "my life for you" life of service.

The Challenge (James 4:6-10) – The struggle of "my life for you" in a world of "my life for me"
James 4:6-10 is a profound text that speaks into the struggle to live in ways that go against our natural tendency to live for ourselves. James said that the devil, the world's systems and our own human nature will tempt us to live self-centered ways
Notice that v.6 & v.10 are like bookends. They both call us to being humble before God. According to v.7a, this life of humility begins by "submitting to God". As we have seen throughout the book of James, our submission to God must result in us loving people who are made the image of the God to whom we are submitting. Pastor James was very concerned that many of his church people who claimed to love Jesus did not love people as Jesus loves people. They were not caring for people in distress like widows. They were not welcoming strangers into their church. And, even within the church, they were fighting viciously with one another.
In 4:7b-9, James says, "This has to change!!" So, like a loving parent lovingly but firmly reprimands a wayward child, Pastor James "lays down the law" in no uncertain terms. Look at what he said:
• V.7b – Resist the devil! James says, "What you're doing looks more like the devil than like your savior Jesus! Resist the devil's way of putting self at the center of your life (which is what Lucifer did according to Isaiah 14:12-15): Lucifer said in his heart: "I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol -- to the lowest depths of the Pit. James says to us that self-centered living is the path of death and a sure sign that God is not reigning in and through us. "My life for me" is the devil's way!
• V.8b – I can picture myself being like a teenager thinking, "I can't take this reprimand anymore" and saying to James, "OK, OK – I've got it". Then, I might start to walk out of the room. But James says, "Get back here. I'm not done. It's not just the devil. You've got something wrong inside your life. Clean up your ways, you sinner. Purify your heart, you double-minded worldly person pretending to be a Christian." Do you see it? This is a powerful call to whole-lived recommitment to submitting to God by keeping his command to love your neighbor as yourself.
• V.9 – Once again, I picture being one who thinks, "I'm glad that's over. It was hard but the I've survived." And, perhaps I am trying to get away from James for a second time when he says, "Get back here! I don't see there is any remorse at all in your heart for your sins. You've got a smirk on your face that shows me you're not ready to change and to obey God! Your heart has to change from one who makes light of everything and who thinks that it doesn't matter what God thinks." Then James quoted the OT prophets when they called people away from their self-centered and frivolous ways. James declares: Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
Do you feel the convicting power of his words in your own hearts? Do you see places today where you have turned away from God and never returned? Do you see areas in which you have known there is something God would have you do, some person God would have you to help and bless, but you have not done it. I say, "Submit to God! Humble yourself right now in the presence of God and he will lift you up." Never forget that God gives grace to the humble. To humble yourself before the Lord means to recognize your own spiritual poverty and your own desperate need for God's mercy. When you realize God is ready and willing to show you mercy, then you will never be too proud to live a "my life for you" life as Jesus did.

What "My Life for You" Looks Like
I started my message by saying that this is a message not so much about a one-time decision you make but more about establishing way of life that is consistent with Jesus' life and is in keeping with God's Word. So, now I want to ask, in what ways would an intentional "my life for you" approach change your life? Let me mention just some of the ways that people I've spoken to have suggested:
Pastor Carol Kenyon said our parents who choose to love and raise special needs children live this kind of life. Their entire waking life often revolves around helping their child navigate every part of this world. They often put aside their own careers and aspirations for their child. I would add that I think every good parent lives "my life for you" daily. It begins with the pain of child birth and continues with choices to give up time and personal priorities and money – yes, lots of it – out of love for your child.
Pastor Annie Neufeld reminded me that something most kids struggle with is allowing a sibling to push the elevator button, to give up the right to ride shotgun in the car, or to allow someone else in the family pick the radio station to listen to. These things seem small – but what I'm talking about is a way of life that affects both big and small things. Even our children will need to be nurtured to act as Jesus acted as give up preferences for one another. It will not come naturally.
Eric Johnson said, "The simplest example I can think of is allowing someone with minimal groceries to go ahead of me in line when I have a full shopping cart." The same choice comes about when someone wants to pull in ahead of us while we're driving.
Debbie Gonzalez said: A "my life for you approach" is a choice we make when we are asked to take care of a sick or dying parent, to volunteer at a children's hospital, to give up your spring break or vacation to go on a missions trip, to drive a friend to downtown LA to a doctors appointment on your day off...
In a church, this life is the willingness to leave your group of friends at church to welcome someone who does not seem to belong (welcoming the stranger). It's taking the first step in reconciliation even if we feel that 92.3% of the blame belongs to the other person. Sometimes this life is one in which you get up the courage to tell someone about Jesus – fearing that you will be mocked but you give witness to Jesus anyway both out of love for God and love for that person's soul.
Joanne Matthew wrote, "'My life for you'" is taking over a meal to someone who is sick, smiling and saying good morning to a random person on the street, being willing to watch a movie that you are not too keen on just because the other person would like it, crossing the street a little faster just so the car that's waiting for you can wait a little less.
And, I think Joanne summarized it better than anything I have thought of: "Living a 'my life for you' life is having a heart that is willing to be inconvenienced.

The Impact of a "My Life for You" Way of Life
When a church like ours has more and more of us allowing the Spirit of God to empower us to move from self to service of others, then, according to James 3:16-17, this God-glorifying way of life will have a peace-making healing affect. It works out like this: You give up something simply to bless someone else and that other person says, "Thank you." What a powerful phrase! "Thank you." It means, "I recognize and appreciate something you have done that helps me or brings me joy." When we engage in an act of service and it's followed by a thank you, a bond is formed. Pride is taken away. People begin to be connected to one another. I am convinced that a life of service and gratitude should be at the heart of any church in which Jesus is Lord. In that kind of community that reflects the ways of Jesus himself, love reigns. Healing, restoration and growth takes place. And people will be drawn to the one who works this in our lives. Jesus said, "By this shall all know that you are my disciples: If you love one another."

The Joy of a "My Life for Yours" Way of Life
Our culture usually tells us that we'll find fulfillment by doing things for ourselves. Jesus calls us to give up our lives for others as he did. So, this leads to a big question: Is there joy in living that kind of life? A "my life for me" approach promises so much to you when you do things for yourself, focus on your own advancement, build a bigger home, accumulate a bigger bank account... How can we counteract the allure of that with one sermon?
So I ask you to consider the joy you have had when you have gone on a mission trip and served people who had nothing but seemed to give back more to you than you ever could have given. I want you to consider the joy that you have when you do a small act of kindness and see the smile break out of someone's face and hear them say, "Thank you".
When Joanne Matthew wrote me about living a "my life for you" life, she added: I have to admit that thinking about how to live this way has given me a joy that is not to easy to describe."
I asked Jeremy Rose about this. He assed me that deep down, everyone in the world knows that real life and joy is found when we give up our won convenience to serve others. Then, Jeremy listed a couple of movies for me:
1) The Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen volunteers herself for the Hunger Games in place of her younger sister who would most certainly die in the games. It seemed to be a sure a death sentence for her, but she ends up winning the games and lives.
2) The Avengers: Both Captain America and Iron Man (in separate movies) make decisions to give up their lives and plummet to almost certain deaths to save humanity. They both live.
3) Despicable Me: Gru risks his life and reputation as a super-villain for the sake of three girls that he adopted to use as bait, but ends up rescuing them.
So, the world recognizes the truth of living this Jesus-directed life of service – but then all the forces of our world so often turn us back into a "my life for me" pattern. We need to the power of God to live as God calls us to live. And we have it. So, let us hear the powerful words of

Jesus as he declared:
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
Jesus, Mark 8:34-35

To His glory,

Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor