By Pastor Greg
A sports fan was sitting in the
top row at the Super Bowl, barely able to see the field. He noticed a vacant
seat about 3 rows back on the 50-yard line. It was still vacant when the second
quarter started, so he went down and asked the man seated next to it if anyone
was sitting there. The man said, "No, have a seat." A few
minutes later he asked the man if he knew whose seat this was and why they
weren't here at such an important event. The man said that it had been his
wife's seat for ten years, but she had
passed away. Feeling sorry for the nice
man, the fan asked if he didn't have a friend or family member that he could
have offered the seat to instead of just leaving it vacant. The man replied, "No, they're all at the
funeral."
This husband apparently had misplaced priorities. It’s obvious who or what was more important
than his wife. He may have said, “I love you”, but his behavior and his
actions indicate that she wasn’t the most important thing in his life. I believe we can tell the same thing about Christians. You can tell what kind of relationship they
have with Jesus based upon their actions and their priorities.
Did you know that our priorities
in life actually reflect our love for Jesus?
Did you know that saying you love Jesus means nothing unless you allow
your life to be rearranged around Jesus?
Did you know that Jesus is aware when we make something else a higher
priority than Him? Peter struggled with
this. His priorities in life became
confused. After the death and
resurrection of Jesus, the group of disciples returns to Galilee and Peter
decides to go fishing. He decided to go
back to his old career. He served his three-year term with Jesus, but now it was time
for things to return to normal. However,
Jesus knew what was happening in Peter’s life, and when the group drags the net
of fish up on shore, Jesus asks a very bold question.
15 After breakfast Jesus asked
Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,”
Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do
you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care
of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A
third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt
that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know
everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep
[1]
(John 21:15-17).
Pointing to the fish, Jesus asks Peter which he loved more. Did Peter love
fishing for fish or fishing for men?” To
Jesus, it appeared fishing for fish was a
higher priority. By his actions, it was
clear that Peter was more interested in his life on earth than in serving the
Lord. This is why Jesus asks the
question. Of course, Peter replies by
saying “Yes I love you Lord”, but his present actions did not demonstrate
this. Twice the Lord asked Peter if he
would demonstrate a sacrificial
love. Twice Peter said that Jesus was
just his good friend. In the end, Jesus
points out that even a good friend should be a higher priority than a bunch of
fish.
I understand that we read this
story and think of Peter and of Jesus, but do we have the courage to read this
story and think of ourselves? Are we
willing to allow Jesus to ask us the same question? As we examine our own lives and our own
priorities, to what would Jesus point and ask, “Do you love Me more than
these?”
Few marriages would survive if
husbands and wives treated one another the way many people treat Jesus. He gets our leftovers, at best. We’re more passionate about the Orioles than
we are about the Lord. We fuss about
chairs and pews, but will drive 500 miles to watch a race in the rain. We give Him three years of our time and then
go back to keeping a pew warm. Then we
wonder why the Lord seems distant in our lives.
It’s because we come to church when it is convenient rather than be the
church even when it involves personal sacrifice. Just like a marriage, saying “I love you”
means nothing unless our actions and priorities demonstrate that love. The Lord deserves our best, not our
leftovers.
I’m not sharing this story about
Peter to make you feel guilty enough to fill and empty leadership position in
our church. I tell you this so you might
realize how important it is that we make Jesus the highest priority in our
life. Rearranging our life so Jesus is
the most important thing is the best way to demonstrate the depth of our love
for Him. We say that He is our “All in
all”; that He is the treasure that we seek.
If that is true, then our life should reflect this. Jesus should never have to ask, “Do you love
me more than these.” He should know of
our love by the deeds of our hands and the words of our mouth.
“Do you love me more than these? What a
powerful question! Can you
imagine Jesus looking at you and asking this?
Would He need to? That’s what
makes this story so relevant for you and me.
So let’s end with an important exercise.
If Jesus were standing next to you right now, would He need to ask that
question? If so, then what in your life
has become more important than your relationship with Jesus? What “thing” draws you away from being the
Lord’s servant? What has become so
important in your life that you rob Jesus of the time and attention He
deserves? Where is Jesus on your list of
priorities?
[1] Tyndale House Publishers.
(2007). Holy Bible: New Living
Translation (3rd ed.) (Jn 21:15–17). Carol Stream, IL
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