MAN UP BIBLE SERIES Living for Eternity Lesson Three

The Real World The Scripture we will look at today talks to us about the use position and power to get what we want. We have all seen it being worked out at work as well as family gatherings. Who is going to get the seat of honor? You definitely do not want to be left at the kids table! Jesus goes to the house of a prominent person and as people are moving around looking for a place of power to sit he informs them to look for the worst seat in the place. Better to be asked to move up then to be told to move down. He goes even further be suggesting that it would be better to invite those others ignore. He uses a very important word, BLESSED! That is the good feeling you get deep down in your soul for being the kind and generous person that God is calling you to as you Live for Eternity. Lets read from Luke 14 and see what Jesus is up to:

The Real Word Luke 14:1-14 New International Version (NIV) Jesus at a Pharisee’s House 14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. 5 Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say. 7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Real Talk Have you ever done something for someone with no expectation of being repaid? How did it make you feel? Have you ever noticed that doing good things now does not guarantee that you will be thanked now. Why is that? Do you help others to get a thank you or is it enough to know you are doing something noble for God?

Real Steps Hebrews 11: 6 “Without faith it is impossible to please God for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder.” God Rewards those who SEEK him. (Matt.6:6) God Rewards those who SUBMIT to Him. ( Eph. 6:8) God Rewards those who practice SELF DENIAL. (Matt.16) God rewards those who SERVE others. (Mark 9:41) God rewards those who SUFFER for Him. (Luke 6: 22 – 23) God rewards those who SHARE with others. (Matt. 6: 3 – 4) Practice these and you will be BLESSED!

Time to Close In one of my favorite movies of all time, Field of Dreams, the main character is doing all these things for others and he is growing weary and asks, “What’s in it for me?” The response is, “it was all for you.” As you pan out onto the ball field a young man comes onto the field and it is his father who he had not spoken to for years and who died before he could ask for his forgiveness. In that moment a father and son were able to have that final catch both as men and close a gap in their relationship. Why do I tell you that story? This is the way it is for us as Christian men. While we are out there doing good for all we meet there is a benefit both now and for the future. We must realize that it will not all add up now but it will all add up someday and that has to be enough. Time to MAN UP!