A Christian’s Desire Is To Become More Like Jesus Christ Persecution is what Jesus received for trying to help the flock of God (Matt 27). Jesus often spent His time and energy on those who were very unappreciative (Jn 1:11). Many of the prophets in the O.T. did the same. When others seem unappreciative we may ask, “What’s the Use?”. Why linger, remaining with someone who will not take heed?

(Tarrying with the Heedless) “What’s the Use…?” (Tarrying with the Heedless)

“What’s the Use…?” Isaiah 6:1-11 Ezekiel 1:28-2:1-8 It is one thing to put your efforts into a project and have it fail; but something entirely different to enter into something, knowing ahead of time that most of what you do will be unfruitful. What might that do to your enthusiasm? Ezekiel 1:28-2:1-8 Imagine being told that your efforts to share God’s words with someone would be so frustrating & difficult, that the only way to describe it was that it’d be like dwelling among briers and thorns? The NASB says that it would be like sitting “on scorpions”.

“What’s the Use…?” Jesus spent a great deal of His time working among those that He knew well in advance… Would be ungrateful for His efforts. Would plot against Him from “behind the scenes”. Would be openly hostile toward Him. This is an area in which we must discipline ourselves. Why would you want speak to someone that isn’t listening? Why would we work for someone that does not appreciate our labor? If you knew these things in advance, would you be tempted to abandon your efforts and move on to something else?

Jesus Feeds the 5,000 (Mt. 14:13-21; Lk. 9:10-17; Mk. 6:30-44; Jn Mark 6:33-34: But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. John 6:10-12: Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.“

Jesus Feeds the 5,000 (Mt. 14:13-21; Lk. 9:10-17; Mk. 6:30-44; Jn Mark 6:33-34: But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. John 6:10-12: Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.“ John 6:26, 41, 60, 61, 64, 66

Jesus Heals Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19) Jesus told the ten to go show themselves to the priests. The reason the Samaritan returned to Jesus was that his heart was bursting with gratitude toward God. The nine were not properly grateful for the truly great blessing they had received. Self-Assessment Time: Had we the power to heal, along with the knowledge of men’s hearts; and these ten lepers came to us, how many would we have healed?

Jesus Was Tested On So Many Occasions… Demanded to show signs (Matt 16:1-4). Criticized for healing on the Sabbath (Mk 3:1-6). Criticized for eating without washed hands (Lk 11:38). Others tried to trick Him on whether or not they should pay taxes (Matt 22:15-22). Was tested on what He taught concerning marriage (Matthew 19:1-12). His authority to say and do the things that He did was openly challenged (Matthew 21:23-27).

“What’s the Use…?” Why did Jesus spend so much time answering, and dealing with, troublemakers? A big reason could be that Jesus spent His energy seeking to benefit of those who were merely listening, off to the side. Another reason could be Jesus’ deep desire to reach His enemies (Matt 5:43-48; Acts 2). Acts 6:7: Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

“What’s the Use…?” We want to pretend that our time and energy belong to us, and we don’t want to use it when we perceive it will be a waste. But it isn’t our time and energy: It is time and energy that God has given us! The God of Heaven expects for us to spend our time and energy telling others of His Word, and doing for them the good works we were created to walk in. If we are dedicated to being more like Jesus in every way, we won’t discriminate; we will spend time and energy even on those who seem to be unappreciative! We do not know what the long term effect of our actions will be.