Making Much of Jesus

A preacher found a shoe box in a closet. He opened it and found strange contents. Inside was an egg carton with 5 eggs. Next to the eggs was a stack of bills that totaled over $10,000. As soon as his wife walked thru the door, he stopped her to ask if she knew anything about this odd combination. “Yes, dear, after we got married, I decided that after every sermon you preached if it was a bad one, I would put an egg in this shoebox.” The preacher thought with pride about all the years they had been married and that only 5 eggs were in the box. “But honey, what about the $10,000?” “Oh, well every time I got a dozen eggs, I sold them.” (Source Unknown).

Though we are quite diverse as human beings, the motivations of our humanity are really not that complex. In fact the Apostle John reveals that there are just three basic pursuits that we as God’s image bearers live by who are living by the values of this world’s system.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (I John 2:15-17, NIV).

Did you catch the three motivations of the human heart in these verses? The lust or desires of the flesh can be described as the “pursuit of pleasure.” It is the human desire that if it feels good, it must be good. The lust or desires of the eyes can be described as the “pursuit of possessions.” It is the human desire to acquire! The pride of life can be described as the “pursuit of popularity.” It is the human desire to feel significant, to be noticed and to be well-thought of--popular.

You see we are not really that complex when it comes to what motivates the worldly human heart. Pleasure, possessions and popularity are the three controlling values that often motivate our decisions and feelings of well-being.

Sadly, none of these things truly satisfy! They are like drinking salt-water—they only create a greater thirst that cannot be satisfied! We all need to be reminded that what the world promises is what our Savior, the Lord Jesus, delivers. He is the only Savior that can satisfy the deep longings of the heart. Worldly pursuits will pass away, but the one who surrenders to the saving work of Christ will live a forever life—an eternal quality of life now and life eternal in quantity forever!

So let’s make much of Jesus and not so much of what our hearts naturally desire. His invitation is for anyone who will listen:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV).

Dr. David Ley is the President of Alaska Bible College and Pastor of Family Care, ChangePoint Mat-Su.